A total Taka 644 billion (equivalent to US $10 billion) of revenue and development budget for the fiscal 2005-2006 at a target of 5.4% growth was placed in parliament on 9 June and passed at the end of the month. Aimed at poverty alleviation and employment generation, the budget aims to boost agro-based industries and the rural non-crop sector. The budget however drew mixed response in that its proposed commendable measures, such as increased allocation for education, healthcare and rural infrastructure development, doubling farm subsidy, and widening social safety nets may get overshadowed by its lack of holistic approach to strengthening local government, tackling corruption and reducing income disparity.

The draft Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), designed to provide a roadmap for accelerated poverty reduction in Bangladesh, is at the final stage. It has identified 7 strategic agenda: employment, nutrition, maternal health, quality education, sanitation and safe water, criminal justice and local governance. Although the PRSP document is still in draft form, its implementation has already begun with a 3-year rolling plan from the current fiscal year.

Prices of daily essentials are on continuous rise for last few months due mainly to corruption and black-marketing.

Bangladesh gained a huge boost in drawing foreign direct investment when India's industrial giant Tata group on 20 April 2005 submitted a US $2.5 billion investment proposal for setting up a 1000 MW power station, a steel mill with an annual production capacity of 420,000 tonnes and a one million-ton capacity fertiliser factory in the country.

The High Court has upheld the 14 th amendment to the constitution providing for 45 reserved seats for women in parliament and the law for their indirect election. Discharging three writ petitions that challenged validity of the provision, a High Court division bench termed the amendment “not unconstitutional”, clearing the way for holding the election to the women's reserved seats in Parliament.

On 18 June 2005, a National Eye Care Plan was formally launched. Formulated jointly by the Bangladesh National Council for the Blind (BNCB) and international NGOs, the plan was formally adopted by the government in May 2005. Aimed at eliminating avoidable blindness from the country by 2020 in line with WHO-adopted global campaign ‘Vision 2020-the Right to Sight', the plan attaches priority to major eye problems such as cataract, childhood blindness, refraction and low vision and recognises the need for focused services with cornea, retina and glaucoma.

The government is finally taking steps to create a new tea-producing region in five northern districts, namely Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Nilphmari, Lalmonirhat and Dinajpur. Following a directive from an inter-ministerial meeting, a Bangladesh Tea Board (BTB) team visited Nilphamari in mid-June to collect data on the prospects of tea-plantation in the region and talk to farmers, Chamber leaders and the administration.

Group and later spent some time with two members Sharathi Devi and Sushama Devi at their homes and discussed about their livelihoods. She was impressed to see how the women were becoming self-reliant with very limited resources and development and micro finance support from RDRS.  

The Crown Princess visited Thetrai Union Federation in Ulipur. The range of handicraft products produced by Federation members impressed her. Crown Princess Victoria's visit gave inspiration and hope to poor people especially women of the area. The Crown Princess praised Lutherhjaelpen's assistance and RDRS' activities in northwest Bangladesh.

Civic Engagement: RDRS is implementing a project titled ‘Exploring Civic Engagement at Grassroots Level for Ensuring Children's Right to Quality Education in Northwest Bangladesh' with support from Manusher Jonno (a funding consortium). The specific objective of the project is to increase competence and involvement of CBOs NGOs and CSOs in grassroots advocacy related to primary education and its quality.

Several Mother's Group have been formed under this project to review the school environment, children's attendance etc. The Management Committee and the community engage Community Teachers responsible to conduct class and extra coaching for the children.

micro-finance and education to raise the livingstandard of disadvantaged rural poor. Under education it continues with feeder school center for tribal children, adolescents education and functional literacy for adult advocacy for promoting access to education for tribal children. Under tribal project about 275 children have been enrolled in government schools in grade three and four.

Legal Education LEGAL: Legal Education and Gender Aware Leadership (LEGAL) Programme received a three-month no-cost extension from the Royal Netherlands Embassy. The Embassy also supported RDRS to formulate a five- year Project Document for further continuation of the LEGAL. In this connection, a Consultant Ms. Barbara James worked with RDRS to revisit LEGAL programme activities and developing new programme proposal.

Federations: RDRS continued its support to strengthen the institutional capacity of Federations (apex body of organized Groups of poor people trained by RDRS) a total of 39 received government registration with the Department of Social Welfare during this quarter to raise the number of total registered Federations to 139.

Community Health: RDRS Community Health Program provided antenatal services to 28,034 pregnant women, treated 580 tuberculosis (TB) patients, 57 leprosy and 7231 eye outdoor patients (7,040 female) and conducted 281 eye surgeries. During this period 76 pregnant women were provided treatment for STD.

Health and Family Planning: Health and Family Planning Sector of the government entered into an agreement with the Boragari Social Welfare Group for organising Folksongs Programme in ten Unions of Domar Upazila. The main purpose of the folksong programme was to raise mass awareness for family planning among the people. During 12 – 16 May, the Folksong Group performed shows in 10 Unions and a huge number of people attended each functions, which were encouraging and educative for the community.

World Environment Day: On 5 June, all Union Federations of Rajarhat Upazila observed World Environment Day. “Greening” all around, being the slogan. A number of rallies and discussion were held in each Federation while tree plantation campaign marked the day. People were encouraged to grow more trees to maintain the ecological balance and protect the environment.

Workshop on Women's Rights: Women's Rights Protection Cells of different Union Federations under 5 Upazilas of Panchagarh Project Unit, organised month-long Workshops on Women's Rights Protection. A total of 385 participants (306 women) attended 8 days' workshop in May. Torture on women, dowry, divorce, child marriage, polygamy, marriage registration, gender, women's empowerment etc came up for free discussion in the workshop.

RDRS Trustee Board Meeting: The 16 th Trustee Board Meeting of RDRS was held on 12 May 2003 at RDRS Dhaka office. Chairperson Rasheda K Choudhury presided the meeting. Mr Shivnarayan Koiri joined the meeting as a new Board Member. The Board discussed RDRS programme development, the next strategic plan issues and matters arising from the 9 th RDRS Partners' Consultation in November 2004.

Woman Director: Community Health Programme Coordinator Dr. Salima Rahman was promoted as Director of Community Health. She is the first woman Director (one of five) of RDRS.

Visitors:

Visitors to RDRS Bangladesh during April-June 2005 were as follows: