1. Meeting of the NSC with the LCG February 26, 2004 10.00 AM Dr. Kamaluddin Siddiqui Principal Secretary to the Hon’ble Prime Minister and Chairman, National Steering Committee (NSC)

2. Preparing a PRSP Highest commitment of the Government to this task Highest commitment of the Government to this task Aimed at preparing an effective medium-term strategy document Aimed at preparing an effective medium-term strategy document Will have well prioritized development agenda and programmes Will have well prioritized development agenda and programmes Preparation going on in full swing Preparation going on in full swing Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

3. Recent Developments After the briefing by NPFP on December 15, 2003 NSC met twice and took some further decisions to strengthen the process of PRSP preparation NSC met twice and took some further decisions to strengthen the process of PRSP preparation Made some changes in the structure and composition of some Thematic Groups Made some changes in the structure and composition of some Thematic Groups These Changes are highlighted below These Changes are highlighted below Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

4. Thematic Groups (as they finally stand) Macroeconomic Stability & Pro-poor growth Macroeconomic Stability & Pro-poor growth Financial Sector Reforms (including banking, trade and globalisation) Financial Sector Reforms (including banking, trade and globalisation) Infrastructural Development and Reforms including Power, Energy and Communications (Roads, Railways, Inland Water Transport, Air Transport, Port & Shipping) Infrastructural Development and Reforms including Power, Energy and Communications (Roads, Railways, Inland Water Transport, Air Transport, Port & Shipping) Domestic Resources Mobilization Domestic Resources Mobilization Reforms in Governance including civil service reforms, judicial reforms and law and order Reforms in Governance including civil service reforms, judicial reforms and law and order Health including Population Planning, Nutrition and Sanitation Health including Population Planning, Nutrition and Sanitation Education including primary and mass education, female education, vocational and technical education Education including primary and mass education, female education, vocational and technical education Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

5. Thematic Groups (Contd.) (as they finally stand) Women and Children Advancement and Rights Women and Children Advancement and Rights Rural Development including Food Security, Disaster Management, Safety-net Programmes, Micro-credit and Rural Non- farm Activities Rural Development including Food Security, Disaster Management, Safety-net Programmes, Micro-credit and Rural Non- farm Activities Agriculture (Crops, Fisheries, Livestock) and Environment including Forestry, Land Reforms, Land use, Safe Water Supply and Water Resources Management Agriculture (Crops, Fisheries, Livestock) and Environment including Forestry, Land Reforms, Land use, Safe Water Supply and Water Resources Management Private Sector Development with SME Private Sector Development with SME Information and Communication Technology and Technology Policy Information and Communication Technology and Technology Policy Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

6. Expanded Composition of TGs: Infrastructural Development and Reforms including Power, Energy and Communications Lead Ministries: Lead Ministries: i) Ministry of Communications ii) Power Division Associates: Associates: i) Energy Division ii) LGED iii) RHD iv) PDB v) REB vi) DESA vii) DESCO viii) PGCB ix) BOGMC x) Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism xi) Ministry of Commerce xii) Ministry of Shipping and xiii) BIWTA Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

7. Reforms in Governance including civil service reforms, judicial reforms and law and order Lead Ministry: Lead Ministry: Prime Minister’s Office (Secretary, PM office) Associates: i) Local Government Division ii) Ministry of Establishment iii) Ministry of Law and Parliamentary Affairs iv) Ministry of Home Affairs and v) Ministry of Commerce Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

8. Rural Development including Food Security, Disaster Management, Safety-net Programmes, Micro-credit and Rural Non-farm Activities Lead Ministry: Lead Ministry: Rural Development and Cooperatives Division Associates: Associates: i) Ministry of Relief and Disaster Management ii) Ministry of Food iii) Finance Division iv) Ministry of Social Welfare v) Local Government Division vi) BRDB and vii) Ministry of Youth & Sports Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

9. Private Sector Development including SME Lead Agency: Board of Investment (BOI) Associates: i) Representative from Ministry of Industries ii) BEPZA, iii) BTRC iv) Energy Regulatory Commission v) Privatization Commission vi) BSCIC vii) Bangladesh Shilpa Bank viii) Chief Controller of Insurance and ix) BASIC Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

10. Information and Communication Technology and Technology Policy Lead Ministry: Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology Associates: i) Ministry of Education ii) Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications iii) BCSIR iv) Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and v) Bangladesh Computer Council Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

11. New Members of the NSC Secretaries of Secretaries of ÿ Ministry of Commerce, ÿ Ministry of Land, ÿ Ministry of Water Resources, ÿ Rural Development and Cooperatives Division and ÿ Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology. Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

12. Reports of Thematic Groups Must address the issues of Must address the issues of ÿ Gender Dimension, ÿ Pro-poor Growth and ÿ Sectoral Governance. Reports to be submitted to the NPFP by April 2004 Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

13. Budget GoB made budgetary provisions for GoB made budgetary provisions for ÿ Consultation Meetings, ÿ BIDS’s services to TGs and ÿ Consultants for NPFP. Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

14. Consultancy ÿ BIDS providing consultancy services to eight Thematic Groups. ÿ Budgetary provision exists for consultancy services for the remaining Thematic Groups ÿ Government is putting in place two consultants for the NPFP beginning March 2004. Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

15. Other NSC Decisions The NSC has ÿ Approved the structure of the consultation meeting at the national level in Dhaka (now rescheduled to March 14 2004) ÿ Finalized the detailed outline of regional level consultation meetings ÿ Met Divisional Commissioners about holding regional consultation meetings. Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

16. Regional Consultation Schedule Sl.RegionDate 1BarisalMarch 11, 2004 2KhulnaMarch 18, 2004 3DhakaMarch 25, 2004 4RajshahiApril 1, 2004 5ChittagongApril 15, 2004 6SylhetApril 29, 2004 Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

17. NPRC Steps are underway for constituting National Poverty Reduction Council (NPRC) Headed by the Hon’ble Prime Minister and Headed by the Hon’ble Prime Minister and Act as an apex body in guiding the process of PRSP preparation. Act as an apex body in guiding the process of PRSP preparation. Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

18. We sincerely seek your suggestions and cooperation in our journey towards poverty free Bangladesh Thank You All Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh