1.0 As per the UN General Assembly resolution 58/197 of 1998, the International Year of Microcredit will be observed worldwide in 2005. Pursuant to the 1998 resolution, the second committee resolution no. 58/221 invites member states, inter alia, to consider establishing national coordination committees or focal points to promote activities relating to the preparation and observance of the year.

2.0 Microcredit is widely acknowledged as an effective anti-poverty tool. Bangladesh is seen worldwide, particularly at the UN, as the originator of this noble concept. So, Bangladesh needs to draw up an elaborate programme to observe the International Year of Microcredit 2005.

3.0 In this regard, in Bangladesh, PKSF has been nominated by the government as the focal point to observe the year properly. Under the guidance of the Ministry of Finance, PKSF will implement an elaborate programme to observe the year and will inform the progress of works to the Finance Division, the Ministry of Finance from time to time. From PKSF Mr. Akond Md. Rafiqul Islam, Assistant General Manager (AGM) has been nominated as the focal point for the Observance of UN International Year of Microcredit.

4.0 Government has constituted a committee to organize the Observance of the year 2005 as the International Year of Microcredit in Bangladesh. Including two co-opted members, the composition of the committee is as follows:

The above mentioned Committee will have the overall responsibility for implementation of the programme. As a focal point, PKSF will coordinate the implementation of the programme.

5.0 The South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka, took action for necessary follow-up and requested the SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu to provide relevant information and appropriate guidance with regard to microcredit operation and also to obtain some inputs from member states to help PKSF with updated information for implementing the programmes. Accordingly the SAARC Secretariat initiated action by requesting the esteemed member states to provide relevant inputs in respect of microcredit activities in their respective countries and to send those directly to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka for necessary action at its end under intimation to the secretariat.

6.0 PKSF has sent inputs on programmes/activities that are being undertaken by Bangladesh to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dkaka, for providing to United Nations Organisations for the incorporation in the Secretary General’s report.

7.0 The National Committee of Bangladesh has by this time held four meetings to chalk out a programme and by this time the committee has unanimously proposed some activities which are as follows:

7.1 The onset of the year could start with a colourful function on 15 January, 2005 in the Bangladesh–China Friendship Conference Centre from 10.40 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. proposed to be inaugurated by the Honourable Prime Minister, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The proposed programme is as follows:

Proposed Program Schedule
Inaugural Ceremony
on
Observance of UN International Year of Microcredit 2005 in Bangladesh
Organized by
National Committee for Observance of the Year
Date: 15 January 2005 (Saturday)
Venue: Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

7.2 Committees at District and Upazila level will be formed for the Observance of UN International Year of Microcredit 2005 throughout the country in various manners. In the District Committee, the Minister in charge of the district will be the adviser and the Deputy Commissioner will be the Convener. The committee will include the representatives of the Ministries included in the National Committee. The representatives of NGOs and members of civil society of the locality and the principal of the renowned college will also be the member of the committee. In the same way, the Upazila Committee will be constituted with Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) as the convener and the local Member of the Parliament as the adviser. Other members should be selected following the pattern of the District Committee. The Ministry of Finance has been requested to ask the Ministry of Establishment/Cabinet Division to give necessary instructions to the District and Upazila administration to ensure the active participation of the local administration to make the programme a success.

7.3 Rallies, exhibitions, seminars, symposia, documentary films and audio video shows at the district and upazila levels will be arranged throughout the year. Special audio-videos on microcredit activities may be shown by different microcredit organisations at the local level.

7.4 Microcredit Year related posters, leaflets and stickers would be produced for wider publicity among the general public. The Ministry of Fisheries & Livestock and BRAC have submitted some samples of posters marked with slogan on the “Observance of UN International Year of Microcredit 2005” to the committee. The slogan used in posters, leaflets and stickers must be approved by the National Committee. Sponsor organisations can put their name in small size in all publications. For distribution of all publications at the field level respective Deputy Commissioners and Upazil Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) may be given responsibilities. The committee reached a consensus that the slogan used in stamps can also be used commonly in posters & leaflets of different organisations. The common slogan will be as follows:

“UN INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF MICROCREDIT 2005
BANGLADESH: PIONEER OF MICROCREDIT”

The Bangla version of the above mentioned slogan may be used in Bangla publications.
PKSF, FNB (Federation of NGOs in Bangladesh) and CDF (Credit Development Forum) and their listed/partner organisations has been requested to publish posters, leaflets, diaries, pads, calendars etc. including the slogan as above mentioned. Besides, the Ministry of Finance has been requested to instruct banks and other financial institutions to publish posters, leaflets, diaries, pads, calendars etc. including the slogan as above mentioned. Moreover, the Ministry of Finance has been requested to write a request letter to the Ministry of Establishment to include the slogan in the calendar of 2005 which will be published by the government.

7.5 The Ministry of Post & Tele Communication has been requested to bring out commemorative stamps on 15 January 2005 to mark the beginning of the Microcredit Year 2005. The draft samples of commemorative stamps, which will be published by the Ministry of Post and Tele Communication in Observance of Microcredit Year, was placed in the meeting by CDF and the following decisions were taken in this regard:

(i) The size, shape and design of the stamps will be jointly finalized by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Post & Tele Communication.
(ii) The background of the stamp should be light colour.
(iii) The committee felt that postal department should be requested formally by the committee regarding the publication of commemorative stamps.
(iv) Commemorative stamps will be two types.

- Commemorative stamps in English will of Tk. 10/- denomination in which slogan will be as under:

“UN INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF MICROCREDIT 2005
BANGLADESH: PIONEER OF MICROCREDIT”.

- Commemorative stamp in Bangla will be of Tk. 2/- denomination in which slogan will be the Bangla version of the above mentioned slogan.

7.6 On this occasion a brochure would be published in the name of National Committee for the enhancement of awareness of the common people. The brochure would be published jointly by Bangladesh Bank, PKSF and CDF. It was agreed that the brochure should contain different success stories of microcredit programmes of different MFIs and different Ministries. The concerned Ministries and MFIs will provide information for the Brochure. The Brochure will include information as of June 2004. The contents of the brochure will be presented in Bangla & English side by side.

7.7 Special bulletins/supplements, news, write up, features will be published regularly in the national newspapers.

7.8 Broadcasting of talk shows, features and success stories of the beneficiaries of microcredit programmes will be arranged by the Ministry of Information.

7.9 Arrangement will be made for essay competition and debates on microcredit activities. The outstanding beneficiaries, field workers and other stakeholders of microcredit programmes will be rewarded as a mark of incentive.

7.10 Different ministries and departments have been advised to implement their own programmes as they deem fit and appropriate with intimation to the committee.

7.11 The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has been request to arrange package tour programme like ‘Visit Bangladesh’.

7.12 A budget of about Tk. 1.00 crore has been proposed by the National Committee and has been sent to the Ministry of Finance for approval for the observance of “UN International Year of Microcredit 2005”. Beyond Government budget, there may be some sponsors to finance some additional components of the programme for Observance of the Microcredit year 2005.

7.13 The National Committee would sit on regular intervals to review the progress of the implementation of the program in a befitting manner.

7.14 The 5th meeting of the National Committee will be held on 25 October, 2004.