Development Programmes

'Implement RTI law to ensure transparency'

23 May 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Proper implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) law is a must to ensure transparency in development programmes, Prof Muzaffer Ahmad said at a roundtable yesterday. “We have learned of housing problems in cyclone Aila-affected areas, but we don't have enough information about health, education and security facilities for Aila victims in the area,” he said. He also suggested improving the disaster management and giving priority to river management. Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan (Bapa) organised the roundtable on 'Failure in rehabilitation and humanitarian crisis in the Aila-hit areas: What are the responsibilities' at Mukti Bhaban at Paltan in the city. Cyclone Aila hit the southwestern coastal belt of the country on May 25 last year, killing about 190 people. The people of the areas are still facing various problems. Presenting the keynote paper, Prof M Shahidul Islam said failure to rehabilitate Aila victims, not the natural disaster, is the main reason behind the humanitarian crisis in Aila-hit areas. He also expressed concern that the Aila victims are yet to be rehabilitated properly even one year into the cyclone Aila. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said the people affected by cyclone Sidr and Aila should be considered as climate migrants and pressure should be put on developed countries to have a responsibility to them. Bapa General Secretary Dr Mohammad Abdul Matin, Ferdous-ur Rahman, Advocate Feroj Ahmed, Prof Dr Farhana Sultana and MD Jamal Uddin also spoke.