Asian Center for Democratic Governance >> Strengthening Democratic Governance

A Report by the Asian Center for Democratic Governance
17 - 18 March 2002
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Program:

  • About this Report
  • Agenda
  • Welcoming Remarks
  • Message from NED
  • Inaugural Address
  • Session 1:
    An Overview of the Functioning of Democracy in the Region
  • Session 2:
    Conflict Management through Democratic Institutions
  • Session 3:
    Fighting Corruption through Greater Transparency
  • Session 4:
    Elevating the Role of Women in Public Life
  • Concluding Session
  • Conference Presenters
  • View Entire Report in PDF
    • The Asian Center for Democratic Governance (ACDG) was created in March 2000 as a partnership between the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) in Washington, D.C. and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in New Delhi. The Asian Center, which is based in New Delhi, held its inaugural conference, "Making Democracy Work," in January 2001. It has conducted two workshops in Seoul and New Delhi, and will continue its program of regional and international workshops and conferences throughout Asia, in an effort to promote discussion and the exchange of ideas regarding the enormous diversity of experiences with democracy and market economies within the region.

    National Endowment for Democracy
    1101 Fifteenth Street, NW
    Suite 700
    Washington, DC 20005 USA
    (202) 293-9072
    (202) 223-6042 fax
    forum@ned.org
    http://www.ned.org

    Confederation of Indian Industry
    23, Institutional Area
    Lodi Road, New Delhi - 110 003 India
    (011) 91-11-4629994-7
    (011) 91-11-4626149 / 4633168
    ciico@ciionline.org
    http://www.ciionline.org


    About this Report

    On 17-18 March 2002, the Asian Center for Democratic Governance (ACDG), in cooperation with the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) and Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), hosted a conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Entitled "Strengthening Democratic Governance," the conference focused on the region of South Asia.

    Following an overview of past and present democratic functioning in different countries of the region, the main sessions addressed three common areas of concern for all of the countries in the region in their efforts to strengthen democratic governance: "Conflict Management Through Democratic Institutions," "Fighting Corruption Through Greater Transparency," and "Elevating the Role of Women in Public Life."

    Participants from Asia and the United States included representatives from government and nongovernmental organizations, business and commerce, civil society, media, and academia. Foreign Minister M. Morshed Khan of Bangladesh gave the inaugural address, preceded by welcoming remarks made by Farooq Sobhan, president of BEI; Tapan Chowdhury, president of MCCI; Sushanta Sen, deputy director general of the Confederation of Indian Industry; and Gautam Adhikari, director of the Asian Center and senior consultant with the National Endowment for Democracy.

    This report summarizes the major presentations, discussions, and the comments made at the conference. While every effort has been made to portray accurately the opinions expressed, space constraints have required omissions and paraphrasing.

    This document was written by Rashida Ahmad, a freelance writer currently based in Dhaka. It was edited by Gautam Adhikari, Peter Vancura, and Stephanie Lewis of the Asian Center for Democratic Governance; and prepared for publication by Stephanie Lewis of the ACDG. Any errors in fact or interpretation should be attributed to the author and editors.

    Gautam Adhikari
    Asian Center for Democratic Governance
    National Endowment for Democracy

    The views expressed in this report do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for Democracy, the Confederation of Indian Industry, or any of the groups that have contributed to this project. Photocopies may be made. When using any part of this document, please cite the National Endowment for Democracy and the Confederation of Indian Industry.
    National Endowment for Democracy | 1101 Fifteenth Street, NW, Suite 700 | Washington DC, 20005 | 202/293-9072 | Fax 202/223-6042
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