The programmes on poverty alleviation, education and health implemented by non-government organisations (NGOs) in Bangladesh are inspiring and imitable, said a visiting Australian human rights commissioner yesterday.

Mick Gooda, an aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice commissioner of the Australian Human Rights Commission, was talking to three national newspapers, including The Daily Star, at the residence of the Australian high commissioner in Dhaka.

“The NGOs in Bangladesh work in good coordination with the government programmes,” said Mick reflecting on his field-level experience.

“We can replicate in Australia some of the success stories and experiences of the NGO services of Bangladesh,” said Mick, who came to Bangladesh on March 27 on a week-long visit till April 1, at the invitation of the high commission.

He travelled to Bogra, Naogaon and Joypurhat during his field-level visit and saw by himself various poverty alleviation, education and health development programmes undertaken by Brac and Oxfam.

He travelled to Naogaon to visit Brac education and health programmes and to meet rural poverty reduction committee there.

He visited Brac’s Wash and Sanitation programme for indigenous community in Joypurhat on March 30.

He visited Oxfam programmes in Rangatali village under Bodolgachhi upazila in Naogaon, learnt about Oxfam’s working strategies with local ethnic communities, visited a pre-primary school run with bilingual curriculum and met Mothers’ Forum involved in managing the school.

It was interesting to see the education programmes on hand washing and sanitation and personal hygiene among young women, he said, adding that the bilingual education is going to conserve cultural heritage.

“Brac’s bilingual pre-primary education may be imitable for Australia,” said Mick, “In case the services are not provided the way people want, the results are not sustainable.”

Australian High Commissioner Dr Justin Lee, who was present during the interview, said out of 61-million-dollar Official Development Assistance (ODA) of Australia to Bangladesh every year, 25 million are granted to Brac.

“Mick’s visit could develop a linkage between the NGO practitioners of the two countries,” the envoy said.

“We could work in partnership with NGO like Brac in a third country even in Australia.”

Mick met Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh-Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group and the foreign secretary the same day.

Deputy High Commissioner Kilmeny Beckering Vinckers was present.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.ne

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