Speakers at a discussion emphasised on giving priority to local people and local economy as well local micro-entrepreneurs rather than making giant corporations richer.
“Out core identity is that we are people, not customers. The corporations now control us. Our small entrepreneurs are our real asset. We should give priority to our environment, local people and local economy rather than making giant corporations richer. This is the main message of localization,” Debra Efroymson, senior adviser to HealthBridge Foundation of Canada; said at the discussion.
The Institute of Wellbeing of Bangladesh and Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust jointly arranged the discussion in Dhaka on Wednesday (June 21) marking the World Localisation Day-2023. The day was also celebrated by organizing exhibition and cultural programme with the slogan ‘Global Crises, Local Solutions’.
The exhibition on World Localisation Day shows indigenous vegetables, fruits, seeds of various food products, traditional sports, indigenous culture and handicrafts. In addition, farmers’ market management model, which is one of the foundations of strengthening the local economy, was also exhibited.
Moderated by Shapla Khatun of the Institute of Wellbeing of Bangladesh, the discussion was addressed, among others, by Farida Akhtar, executive director of UBINIG; Abu Jamil Faisal, an expert on public health; Professor Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumdar, chairman at the Department of Environmental Science of Stamford University; and Saifuddin Ahmed, executive director of WBB Trust.
Shahid Alam Chowdhury, program coordinator of Grameen Euglena Corporation; MA Mannan Monir, founder of Dhaka Ideal Cadet School; and Ivan Ahmed Katha, founder of Kotha Kala Kendra, also spoke on the ocassion.
Professor Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumdar said that although globalization has occurred, the spread of technology or knowledge has not happened that way. “Globalization has had a major impact on climate change. Due to the impact of globalization, the use of single-use plastics in the country has increased manifold. Our bamboo or brass industry disappeared. To bring back localization, the younger generation must strive. Those of us who know about our local culture should convey this message to future generations,” he said.
The speakers said that as a result of globalization, the global system that was developed over the last few decades is threatened now due to war and man-made environmental degradation. For this reason, severe food shortages and price inflation have appeared in various countries of the world. Bangladesh is also a victim of this situation. It is possible to play a vital role in solving various disasters in the world by strengthening the local economy, they added.
Saifuddin Ahmed said, “Many local things have been lost for wrong plans. All our plans are Dhaka-centric. As a result, there was no development in other cities and towns in the country. We can be self-sufficient in times of disaster as well as strengthen the local economy by developing evenly and producing our own products,” he added.
