According to a press release issued by the World Bank, Dhaka office on Tuesday, the goal of the consultation was to listen to and learn from the indigenous people their views on development priorities, particularly for CHT and possible areas for assistance from ADB and the World Bank.

Both the Banks are carrying out extensive consultation for their country strategies with diverse groups of people in different parts of the country. This is the first time that ADB and the World Bank have held a joint consultation.

A number of staff from the World Bank and ADB including Ms. Christine Wallich, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Ms. Hua Du, Deputy Country Director of ADB at Bangladesh Resident Mission, were present at the consultation. Representative from the Regional Council. Hill District Councils, Headman Association, Circle Chiefs' indigenous peoples organisations, local NGOs, women's groups and Union Parishad Association from all three districts voiced their views about development priorities in the hill tracts areas.

The Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) of the World Bank and the Country Strategy and Programmes (CSP) of the Asian Development Bank are also being harmonised with Bangladesh's national poverty reduction strategy, currently under preparation, in order to help the country meet its development challenges. Meanwhile Performance Recognition Award Programme instituted by the Bangladesh Resident Mission (BRM) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) recognises each year the outstanding performance of Project Directors/Coordinators and Project Teams.

In recognition of the excellent team cooperation, good governance initiatives, efficiency and transparency in procurement and effective project implementation, BRM selected in 2004 two Project Teams as the best performing teams and presented the awards at a simple ceremony held on 7 December. The awards were accepted by the Project Directors on behalf of the Teams. The Project Teams awarded are:

Project Management Team of the Secondary Education Sector Improvement Project [Loan 1690-BAN(SF)]. The Project Team was represented by Project Director: Md. Bashirul Haque; and

Design and Evaluation Team of Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Limited (PGCB) for the Dhaka Power System Upgrade Project (Loan 1731-BAN) and the West Zone Power System Development Project (Loan 1885-BAN). The Project Team was represented by the Deputy General Manager, PGCB, and leader of the team: A.K.M. Firoz.

The awards were presented by Toru Shibuichi, Country Director, who emphasised the importance of cooperation and teamwork in attaining project objectives. The award ceremony was attended by Md. Shaheedul Haque, Joint Secretary of the Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance as special guest.

The Asian Development Bank is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region through pro-poor sustainable economic growth, social development, and good governance. Established in 1966, it is owned by 63 members-45 of which are from the region. In 2003, it approved loans and technical assistance amounting to US$6.1 billion and US$177 million, respectively.

Source: The New Nation