BDCSOProcess virtual conference on October 6, 8, and 10

BDCSOProcess, a process forum of around 700 local CSOs/NGOs on Sunday had a virtual press conference on its incoming virtual annual conference titled "Towards self-esteemed independent CSO/NGO sector"  to be held on October 6, 8, and 10.

The press conference was moderated by the Chief Moderator of the BDCSO Process Rezaul Karim Chowdhury and the welcome address was given by Mostafa Kamal Akanda of COAST, said a press release.

The divisional leaders of the process Akbar Hossain from Rangpur, Faruque Hossain from Moymensingh, Shamima Sultana from Dhaka, Anwar Zahid from Barisal, Asad from Khulna, and Arifur Rahman from Chottogram also spoke in the press conference.  

Mostafa Kamal Akanda said that since 2014 Bangladeshi local NGOs have had participated in the UN-led process for the World Humanitarian Summit which has ended with Grand Bargain (2016) agreement that envisages localization, aid transparency, and participation revolution.

There was UN and IFRC led agreement of Principle of Partnership (2007) too, meantime INGOs have signed the Charter for Change (C4C-2015). In this backdrop and campaign, BDCSOprocess has been formed to promote sectoral unity in Bangladesh, principles of the liberation war, and to promote localization in the country, the press release added.   

Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said that the aim of the conference is to re-energize local NGO/CSO in this regard, discuss the latest international policy guideline on localization especially from Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) which reaffirm the primacy of local actors even during this Covid-19 fall out the situation and to motivate local actors to be based on local/own resource mobilization.

There will be 15 international prominent CSO/ NGO leaders including Roberto Bissio from the Social Watch Uruguay; Ignacio Packer from ICVA Switzerland, Dr Hany Al Banna from Humanitarian Forum UK, Prof Thea Horst from ISS and International Humanitarian Study Association Netherlands, Mr Sudanshu Sing from India, Nanette from the Philippines, Howard Mollet from C4C & CAFOD UK, Smruti Patel and Koenrad Van from GMI Switzerland will take part as speakers in different sessions.

PKSF Chairman Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad will inaugurate the conference, while Rashadul Islam, director-general of the organisation will be present as special guest.

Leaders of different leading network of the country, including  Rokeya Kabir and Joynta Adhikari from ADAB, Shireen Haque from Naripokka, Saheen Anam from MJF, Morshed Sarker from CDF, Rafiqul Islam from FNB, and Abdul Awal from SUPRO will be speak the sessions. Around 500 local NGO/CSOs will take part in the virtual sessions.

Akbar Hossain from Rangpur said during the conference that local NGOs are more capable now, so international agencies should be limited to their role only in monitoring and technical assistance. Anwar Zahid from Barisal said that local NGO/CSOs want to celebrate fifty years of independence of Bangladesh by implementing principles of the liberation war. Sheikh Asad of Khulna said that we will reaffirm our promise to implement vision 2021 and SDGs along with our government. Arifur Rahman from Chattogram said that local NGO/CSOs will have to lead to self-reliance and self-esteemed where we need help from UN agencies and INGOs.