Denmark, the co-chair of Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDDR), appealed Wednesday to the donor group to support Bangladesh for an accelerated recovery from the serious after-effects of the cyclone, Sird, reports UNB.

“I am pleased to see that the people of Bangladesh have already started reconstruction. It is a great challenge that meeting it needs international support,” Danish Minister for Development Cooperation Ms Ulla Tornaes told the newsmen at a press briefing at the Danish Embassy.

The World Bank Bangladesh Country Director Zhu Xian who is also co-chair of GFDDR and the Danish Ambassador in Bangladesh, Einer H. Jensen, were present on the occasion.

Ms Tornaes announced that in addition to emergency response with US$1.0 million, Denmark would donate US$ 2.0 million to GFDDR for further improving disaster preparedness and also for supporting priority recovery interventions beyond the humanitarian phase.

Copenhagen will donate another amount of US$1.0 million dollars to Action Aid for projects aimed at strengthening the disaster preparedness locally.

“We hope this contribution will help the government leverage additional financing for long-term recovery efforts to further strengthen the country’s resilience and disaster preparedness, rebuild people’s lives and bridge the gap between humanitarian relief and long-term reconstruction,” she said.

Ms Tornaes said the damage done by the cyclone Sidr stresses the need for integrating disaster risk reduction into development cooperation.

She rang the alarm bell by stating that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that more storms and flooding could be expected in the future due to climate change.

Ms Tornaes, who visited some of the worst-hit Sidr-hit areas in Patharghata in Barguna to see its consequences called upon the government of Bangladesh to invest in roads, schools, water and agriculture to an even higher degree by taking preparedness measures into account.

“Climate Change and Natural Disaster Risk Reduction are linked together and should be addressed in a common context,” the Minister suggested.

Zhu Xian, World Bank’s Bangladesh Country Director, said the Danish contribution to GFDDR complements other donor efforts, including the Bank’s recently announced US $250 million support package to Bangladesh.

“Increasingly the international community is focusing on prevention and long-term risk reduction, not just reconstruction,” he said.

The WB country director noted that Bangladesh suffered from floods and a cyclone this year as well as high international oil and food prices.

“This creates an immediate need for support from the international community,” Xian said.

The GFDDR has already provided $300,000 to Bangladesh for disaster preparedness and a comprehensive disaster risk management programme has been launched in South Asia to increase resilience to post-disaster situation.

The visiting Danish Minister made a courtesy call Wednesday on Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed at his office. Relief and rehabilitation works, election, political reforms and prices of essentials came up for discussion during the meeting, another UNB report said.

Dr Fakhruddin said the present government is committed to holding a free, fair and acceptable election free from the influence of ‘Money, Muscle and Misuse’ of authority by December, 2008.

“The Election Commission is working to that end following its announced roadmap and the government would provide all-out cooperation, as the need arises,” he further told the Danish Minister.

As the Minister mentioned the Election Commission’s dialogue with political parties, Dr Fakhruddin said the Election Commission is an independent domain. It will prepare a set of guidelines after discussions with the political parties, following its discussions with media personalities and civil society as well.

The Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed Wednesday told the visiting Danish Minister for Development Cooperation that the law would take its own course over the trial of the two detained top political leaders.

“Here court is open — judiciary is open. No one is above the law and everyone will get the benefit of the due process of law,” the head of caretaker government stated categorically when the Minister of Denmark, Ms Ullah Tornaes, wanted to know about the trial of the two top leaders of the two major political parties.

Responding to a question, the Chief Adviser said political parties also want their own reform and registration of political parties is the demand of the people and political parties.

The Chief Adviser thanked Danish Minister for immediate response to his call for cooperation for the long-term rehabilitation programme.

Climate Change and its negative impact on Bangladesh was also discussed. The Danish Minister said a conference on Climate Change like that of Bali would be held in Denmark in 2009.