South Asia Social Forum 2011

Five day long South Asia Social Forum (SASF), Bangladesh 2011 ended with new hopes and new determination to build a new South Asia. The closing ceremony of this enormous event was held at the Shadhinota Stombho (Independence Tower Plaza), Sohrawardi Udyan. SASF expressed their determination with “Dhaka Statement” where the participants expressed their solidarity to mobilize their efforts in order to assert the agenda of people’s economic survival and political autonomy against all forms of authoritarianism, hierarchy and domination;

To continue to exposure and unmask oppressive and exploitative values and ideologies, systems and institutions, practices and actions; Network with all the local, regional and global actors engaged in the struggle for change to the present inequality and injustice; Continue sharing their experience of struggle against capitalism and imperialism and gather inspiration from fellow activists from all over the world; And to intensify their struggle, developing and using effective and creative methods.

The statement was read out by World Social Forum leader Amit Sengupta.

Dr. AAMS Arefin Siddique, Vice Chancellor, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh; Chico Whitaker, Brazil; Qazi Kholiquzzaman, Chairman, PKSF, Bangladesh; Lidy Nacpil, Philipines; Karamat Ali, Pakistan; Farooq Tariq, Pakistan; Shakila Naz, Pakistan; Dr. Keshav Khadka, Nepal; Ahmad Jardar, Palestine; Binod Rayna, India, Ismail Daua, Iraq; Sameer Dossani, India; Shaheen Anam, Manusher Jonno Foundation, Bangladesh; Sheepa Hafiza, BRAC, Bangladesh; Prof A.B.M. Farooq, Bangladesh; Prof Dr. Dalem Ch. Barman, Bangladesh; Dr. Sonia Nishat Amin,Bangladesh; Rokeya Kabir, Bangladesh; Shirin Akhter, Bangladesh; Farah Kabir, Action Aid, Bangladesh; M B Akhter, Oxfam GB, Bangladesh; Khushi Kabir, Nijera Kori, Bangladesh along with many eminent national and international activists were present in the closing ceremony.

PLENARY SCHEDULE:
Issue  : Trans-boundary Water Sharing: Regional Cooperation and Equitable Progress in South Asia
Venue : Senate Bhaban Main Auditorium, 2^nd Floor
Time : 10.00-13.00

Also 07 Workshops is going to be held on different Venue
Download the seminar list ( 19 -22 November 2011)

Closing Ceremony of South Asia Social Forum-SASF, Bangladesh 2011:
Venue: Shadhinota Stombha (Independence Tower Plaza), Shohrawardi Uddyan
Mass Gathering : 3.00 pm
Dhaka Declaration: 3.30 pm
Solidarity Speech: 4.00 pm
Cultural Events: 5.30 pm (ceremony will end up with the Cultural Event)

South Asia Social Forum (SASF), Bangladesh 2011 focused its sessions on the sub-themes of fundamentalism, conflict and societal peace; food sovereignty & livelihood security; contemporary movements and thoughts; and media & cultural hegemony. Different plenary, seminar, workshops were organized under these sub- themes of the forum.

In the morning session, a plenary on “Fundamentalism, Conflict and Societal Peace” was held at the Mall Chattar of Dhaka University. Prof. Ajoy Ray presided over the plenary and presented his key note on “Formation of South-Asia Social Forum Dream: How I Want to See South-Asian Region”. Hasanul Haq Inu, MP, President, Jatiya Shomajtantrik Dal (JSD) and Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Post and Telecommunication, Bangladesh said in South Asia violating religious minorities is a cross border issue and state has to deal these issues with greater importance. Religious conflicts lead to conflict between states. Policy of exclusion has been adapted by the state. Inclusion of minorities in the practice of participatory democracy can bring an end to fundamentalism and conflict. Mohammad Salim, central committee member of CPI (M) and Ex Member of local assembly (Lok Sova), India said fundamentalism attacks the fundamental rights of human. It is an anti- thesis of liberal democracy. Liberty, democracy, peace, fight for justice all can be violated through the manipulation of religious beliefs. Farooq Tariq, Ex Secretary of Labor Party, Pakistan said State has to be separated from religion. Religion should be a private matter, not public and state has to provide equal opportunities for every religion.Other discussants taken part in this plenary were Rashed Khan Menon, MP, Bangladesh; Mujahidul slam Selim, General Secretary, Communist Party of Bangladesh; Nurur Rahman Selim, General Secretary, Gonotontry Party Bangladesh; Rokeya Kabir, Executive Director, Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha (BNPS), Mangal Kumar Chakma, pree and publication secretary, Parbattya Chattagram Janasamhati Samiti (PCJSS) and the plenary was moderated by Shyamal Dutta, Editor, Bhorer Kagoj

Workshop was held on “VAT as a burden for the poor, emphasize the direct tax as a strong and effective mean of resource mobilization” 20^th November held in the Mukarram Bhaban of Dhaka University as a part of the South Asian Social forum. It was jointly organized by equityBD, Tax Justice Network, Voice, INCIDIN Bangladesh and Rupantar.

The workshop was moderated by Sahid Ullah of Dev. Synerg. Isnt, while Syad Aminul Haque of EquityBD presented the key note paper.

Among others the workshop was also presented by Matti Kohenen of Tax Justice network, Lidy Napcil of Jubilee South Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development,  Shoshanko Bandopadhay of Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (India), Farukh Tarique and Ehetashem rana of Pakistan labour party, Pradip Kumar Roy of Online Knowledge Society, Hasan Mehedi of Humanity Watch, Moqbul Ahamad of COAST Trust and Siourab Barua of Shongshoptok.

Documents : Press release [English][Bangla]

SUPRO (Sushashoner Jonno Procharavizan, civil society network) organized a seminar title “Debt Situation of Bangladesh” held at the department of Botanic Science of Dhaka University on November 19th ,2011 as a part of the South Asian Social forum. The Focal issue of the seminar was, general people are damaged for the reason of taking foreign debt, and the way of release.

Tax justice representative Matti Kohenen of France, teacher of economics department of NAYEM Riad Chawdhury, Dr. Atia Warish; the teacher of Kenya University and researcher all of above were present at give speech.

ASF and Manusher Jonno Foundation organized a seminar on “Effective Strategy to combat Gender Based Violence-South Asia Perspective” on November 21^st as part of the South Asia Social Forum. The seminar gathered experienced and committed human rights activists to exchange ideas and best practices in combating the worldwide problems of violence against women. The panelists for the seminar included: Mr M.B Akhter- Program Manager, Oxfam GB; Ms. Naheed Ahmed- National Program Manager , UN Women; Ms. Mahal Aminuzzaman, Acting Head of Section, Human Rights and Good Governance, DANIDA; Ms. Marriane Berner, International Program Manager, Joint Program to address VAW, UNFPA; and Dr. Abul Hossain, Director of Multisectoral Program, Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs.  The session was chaired by Ms. Shaheen Anam, Executive Director of Manusher Jonno Foundation. Each of the panelists gave a brief presentation on strategies implemented by their organizations to combat gender based violence in Bangladesh, the challenges faced, and the lessons learnt. The presentations were followed by a discussion where the issue of greater coordination between NGOs, civil society and government was stressed

Participants and discussants in the South Asian Social Forum (SASF), Bangladesh 2011 are agreed upon to use this platform to identify the obstacles towards development and to include every section of people in this people’s movement. Today (Sunday) the third day of SASF was scheduled with three plenary sessions, 19 seminars, and 22 workshops. Foreign delegates, civil society activists and students from different parts of the world expressed such insight while participating in these events.

The first plenary of the day was held at the main auditorium of Senate Bhaban in the morning. The plenary headed “Effective Development: Decentralization and Local Government in South Asia” was chaired by Justice Golam Rabbani. This plenary was one of the main programs from the organizers. Prof. Dr. Akhter Hossain presented his key note on the title. He said government should formulate a comprehensive national decentralization policy which will encompass political, administrative, and market decentralization. Kuldip Nayar an eminent journalist and activist from India said all country in this region is trying to associate mass people in the decentralization process. According to him, democracy now a day is measured quantitatively, it is not measured whether that democracy is accountable or not. Associating the mass with the process of decentralization and bringing justice to them should be the main goal of decentralization.