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Preamble
Whereas water planning at present is mainly
monosectoral
i.e. agricultural. And whereas development of water
resources has positive contribution for the alleviation
of poverty in Bangladesh mainly through increased food
production, better water supply and sanitation, and better
ecosystems and environment management. Since it is
considered necessary to address the issue of water
resources development and management with greater emphasis.
It is, therefore, proposed to establish a professional
organization under the Act for the Registration of
Literacy, Scientific and Charitable Societies (Act No.
XXI of 1860).
Index
Name
of the Organization , Operational Area, HQ of the Partnership
Objectives
and Status of the Partnership
Major Functions of
the Partnership
Membership,
Membership Fee & Procedure for Obtaining Membership
Executive
Committee (EC), Procedure for Formation & Functions of the EC
Duties
& Responsibilities of the Office Bearers of the EC
Rules
& Procedures of Meetings and Quorum of the Meeting
Termination
of Membership, Resignation & Vacancies of EC
Secretariate and Funds of
the Partnership
Bank
Account, Audit, and Transfer of Responsibility
Support from the GWP
Amendment
of the Constitution, Dissolution of the Partnership
CONSTITUTION OF THE BANGLADESH WATER PARTNERSHIP
Name of the Organization , Operational Area, HQ
of the Partnership
1. Name of the Organization:
This organization will be known as "The Bangladesh Water Partnership (BWP)"
(here in after referred to as the Partnership).
2. Operational Area:
The operational area of the Partnership will cover the whole of Bangladesh.
3. HQ of the Partnership:
The HQ of the Partnership will be located in Dhaka. The Partnership may establish branches
as considered necessary in future.
Objectives and Status of the Partnership
4. Objectives: The overall objectives of the
Partnership is Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) which can be obtained through
coordinated development and management of water, land, and related resources in Bangladesh
by maximising economic and social welfare without compromising the sustainablility of
vital economic systems. The specific objectives are :
 | Help formulation and promotion of national policies in the areas of water resources. |
| Facilitate efficient and equitable use of water resources. |
| Carry out study and research on appropriate framework for water use to contribute to the
overall development of Bangladesh in general and rural development in particular. |
| Carry out research and development (R&D) of appropriate systems in water sector. |
| Promote the system of water resources development, which is environment friendly. |
| Study impact of water resources development in employment generation and poverty
alleviation. |
| Disseminate information and facilitate sharing of experience among users, policy makers
and planners for development of water resources. |
| Act as the depository of all information, findings and data on various aspects
related to water resources. |
| Promote increased use of integrated planning approach. |
| Establish linkage and collaboration with government agencies, international agencies,
local govt. institutions (LGIs), private organizations and NGOs and other civil society
groups like media and various professional groups. |
| Promote and organize training in the relevant fields. |
5. Status of the Partnership:
The Partnership will be an organization registered under an appropriate law and engaged in
development of integrated water resources having the following characteristics:
| Non profit |
| Non political |
| Professional |
| Study/Action Research oriented |
Major
Functions of the Partnership
6. Major Functions:
The major functions of the Partnership will consist of:
| Information gathering and dissemination |
| Advocacy |
| Networking |
| Sharing of experience |
| Study/action research |
| Training |
| Fund raising/utilization of fund |
Detailed activities under the major functions are indicated below:
i) Information Gathering and Dissemination:
The Partnership will gather and disseminate information, among others, on the following
issues:
| Identification of key issues in relation to water resources. |
| Impact of current policy in facilitating water resources development in related fields,
such as, agriculture, water supply and sanitation, ecosystems and the environment. |
| Dissemination of study and research findings. |
| Policy innovations concerning water resources development and their impact. |
| Collection and dissemination of information on new innovations within the country and in
other countries. |
| Water resources lessons and experiences relating to systems and technologies useful for
improving the status of water use. |
| Existing facilities in the water sector and potentiality for further development. |
| Initiation of appropriate programmes and their impact. |
| Depository of all information, findings and data related to water resources. |
| Effects and impacts of water resources development on the economy of Bangladesh in
general and rural economy in particular. |
ii) Advocacy:
The Partnership may advocate formulation of and changes to policies of the government,
inter-alia, through the following:
| Initiation and participation in policy level forums. |
| Preparation of papers on policy and planning issues concerning water resources
development and dissemination of the same to the policy makers and planners. |
| Facilitate participation of mass media on development of water resources. |
| Advocacy for public and private sector interventions in water sector. |
| Organize study tours, field visits etc. |
| Presentation of publications and materials. |
| Promotion of pro-active programmes. |
iii) Networking:
Networking activities will be carried out, inter-alia, through the following:
| Organize meetings/workshops/seminars that stimulate and promote information sharing |
| Visits/study tours to water sector projects |
| Publication of newsletters on Partnership activities. |
| Liaison with government agencies, international agencies, NGOs and other civil society
groups, professional bodies, etc. |
| Liaison with National and Regional Partnerships of other countries |
iv) Sharing of Experience:
Sharing of experience on various aspects will include, inter-alia, the following:
| Field visits and study tours within and outside Bangladesh |
| Organize and participate in Workshops/Seminars |
| Share innovative approaches and new technologies |
| Exchange successful practices/achievements |
| Share difficulties and how those have been over-come |
| Share research and evaluation findings |
v) Study/Action Research:
The study/action research activities will include, among others, the following:
| Carry out study/research activities for developing water resources. |
| Facilitate appropriate study/research activities the field of water sector. |
| Research/study on development of appropriate design for water resources development. |
| Implementations of research findings on pilot basis. |
| Study on impacts of water resources on socio-economic development |
vi) Training :
The training activities of the Partnership will, inter-alia, cover the following :
| Identification of training needs for the planners, users, local government functionaries
and others associated with water resources development. |
| Raising awareness among users, beneficiaries, operation and maintenance groups etc. on
appropriate utilisation of water. |
vii) Fund Raising/Utilization of Funds:
The activities concerning fund raising and utilization of funds will, inter-alia, consist
of the following :
| Arrange campaign for raising fund of the Partnership. |
| Collection of funds from various sources. |
| Collection of subscriptions from the members regularly. |
| Proper utilization of funds to achieve the objectives of the Partnership. |
| Maintenance of accounts of income and expenditure. |
| Arrangement of audit of income and expenditure of the Partnership. |
Membership, Membership Fee & Procedure for Obtaining
Membership
7. Membership of the Partnership:
There will be two categories of membership of the Partnership:
| Individual Member |
| Institutional Member |
An individual Member will be any private individual or any person who is interested in
water issues and who can contribute towards achieving the Partnership’s objectives.
The Individual Member will of 2 types:
| General Member |
| Life Member |
General Member:
Any private individual or any person from academic institutions, public sector agencies,
private organizations, NGOs, research institutions/professional bodies and associations
who is interested in water issues and who can contribute towards achieving the
Partnership’s objectives will be eligible to be a general member of the Partnership
on payment of membership fee fixed by the Executive Committee from time to time.
Life Member:
Any distinguished or experienced person with outstanding contribution in the field
of water resources in particular and/or national development in general may be invited to
become life member of the Partnership. Life membership may also be conferred on persons
interested in development of water sector and making donation/contribution of a
significant amount towards the Partnership’s fund.
Institutional Member::
Academic institution, public sector agency, professional bodies, research organization,
private organization, NGO or associations who are interested in development water
reousrces and can contribute towards achieving the Partnership’s objectives will be
eligible to be institutional member of the Partnership through nomination by the
respective organizations and on payment of fee fixed by the Executive Committee from time
to time.
8. Membership Fee:
The fees for the general member, life member and institutional member will be fixed by the
Executive Committee from time to time.
9. Procedure for Obtaining Membership:
The membership of the Partnership will be obtained by applying to the Chairman of the
Partnership. If the criteria of the membership are satisfied and the required fees are
deposited, the Membership will be confirmed by the Chairman.
Executive Committee (EC), Procedure for Formation &
Functions of the EC
10. Executive Committee:
There shall be an Executive Committee (EC) to manage the business and affairs of the
Partnership. The composition of the EC will be:
11. Procedure for Formation of the Executive Committee:
The procedure for formation of the Executive Committee (EC) will include the following:
| The EC members will be elected directly through voting of the members of the
Partnership. |
| Voting power of each institutional member will one like individual member. |
| The EC members will be elected for 2 calendar years. |
| The EC shall convene a general meeting before expiry of its tenure for the election of
the bearers of the next EC. |
| No office bearer of the EC will be elected for more than 2 consecutive terms. |
| The first Executive Committee of the Partnership will consist of the founder members as
decided in the Partnership’s meeting held on 30.9.98. |
12. Functions of the Executive Committee (EC):
The EC shall perform, among others, the following functions:
| Take all relevant measures to achieve the objectives of the Partnership. |
| Shall make byelaws, rules and regulations for furtherance of objectives of the
Partnership. |
| Form committee/sub-committee for specific need and include members from EC office
bearers and/or from general members. |
| Examine the proposals for study/action research activities/pilot projects. |
| Receive and disburse funds |
| Prepare annual plan and budget of the Partnership and place in the Annual General
Meeting (AGM) |
| Maintain accounts of funds received and expended and accounts of assets and liabilities. |
| Arrange of audit of income and expenditure of the Partnership and place the audit report
in the AGM. |
| Prepare and submit reports of the Partnership in the AGM |
| Maintain register of members |
| Convene general meetings |
| Consider and approve the membership applications |
| Determine the rate of membership fees. |
| Conduct overall management and administrative functions of the Partnership. |
Maintain liaison with the concerned government, private and non-government
organizations and other professional entities including the Regional Partnerships of other
countries and the Global Partnership for Integrated Water Resources Development (IWRD)
located in Sweden.
Duties & Responsibilities of the Office Bearers of
the EC
13. Duties and Responsibilities of the Office Bearers of the EC:
a) President:
The President will be responsible, among others, for the following functions:
| Preside over the Executive Committee Meeting, AGM and Special General Meeting (SGM). |
| Guide the activities of the Secretariat of the Partnership. |
| Ensure implementation of all decisions of the EC. |
| In case of urgency, take decision subject to the approval of the EC in its next meeting. |
b) Vice President
There will be one Vice President who will be responsible for the following functions,
among others:
| In absence of the President, act as and when the President of the Partnership as
nominated by the President or as decided by the EC. |
| Assist the President in discharging his duties of the Partnership. |
| Perform other duties assigned by the President or the EC |
c) Secretary:
The Secretary will carryout the following functions, among others:
| Be responsible for operation of all the activities of the Partnership. |
| Coordinate and liaison with the organizations involved in the development of water
resources. |
| Maintenance of all records and documents of the Partnership. |
| Invite EC meeting and general meeting with the prior approval of the President. |
| Prepare annual plan and budget, annual report of the Partnership activities, obtain
approval from EC and present it in the AGM/SGM of the Partnership. |
| Record minutes of the meetings of the Partnership and prepares proceedings. |
| Sign agreement/contract on behalf of the Partnership. |
| Take necessary steps for implementation of the decisions of the EC and the AGM/SGM. |
| Act as the custodian of the records of the Partnership. |
| Make correspondences with other agencies on behalf of the Partnership. |
| Perform other duties as may be assigned by the EC and/or the President. |
d) Treasurer :
The Treasurer’s main responsibilities, inter-alia, will include the following:
| Be the custodian of all funds of the Partnership and remain responsible for maintaining
proper accounts. |
| Disburse funds as per decisions of the EC and obtain/maintain receipt/voucher. |
| Maintain all records of accounts. |
| Be responsible for the audit of accounts of the Partnership |
| Assist the President and the Secretary in financial management of the Partnership. |
| Receive and give receipts for moneys due and payable to the Partnership from any source. |
| Deposit all such moneys in the name of the Partnership in such banks or other financial
institutions, as will the determined by the EC. |
e) Members :
The members of the EC will attend meetings, participate in the discussions and help in
taking decisions of the EC. They will also carry out/perform specific tasks as assigned by
the EC, the President and the Secretary.
Rules & Procedures of Meetings and Quorum of the Meeting
14. Rules and Procedures of Meetings:
The following three types of meeting of the Partnership will be held:
| Executive Committee meeting |
| Annual General meeting |
| Special General meeting |
a) Executive Committee Meeting:
The Executive Committee will meet for the transaction of the business of the Partnership
at least once in every three months. The Secretary will fix up the agenda, time and
date of the meeting in consultation with the President and inform the office bearers of
the EC at least 3 days before the date of the meeting. The Secretary, in consultation with
the President, may call special meeting of EC, if necessary, by serving notice of 1 day.
b) Annual General Meeting:
The AGM of the Partnership will he held every year within December. The following steps
will be taken to hold the AGM:
 | Date and agenda of AGM will be fixed up by the EC. |
| Notice of AGM will be served by the Secretary of the EC at least 15 days before the
meeting. |
| Annual plan and budget, annual report and audit report of income and expenditure will be
presented in the AGM. |
c) Special General Meeting:
The SGM of the Partnership may be held as and when considered necessary. Such special
meetings may be convened either on the basis of decision of the EC or at the request of at
least 15% of the members of the Partnership.
15. Quorum of the Meeting:
| The presence of at least 5 members will be required to form quorum of the EC meeting. |
| The presence of at least one-third of the members will be required to form a quorum of
the AGM or SGM. |
| No business will be transacted at any meeting unless there is a quorum |
| No quorum will be necessary for the adjourned meeting. |
Termination of Membership, Resignation & Vacancies of EC
16. Termination of Membership:
a) An Individual or an Institutional Member of the Partnership will cease his/her
membership if:
| His/her membership fees are due for 2 consecutive years. |
| His/her activities are considered prejudicial or detrimental to the Constitution and the
objectives of the Partnership. |
b) EC Office Bearer: An EC office bearer will cease his/her membership from the EC,
if:
| His/her membership of the Partnership is terminated |
| Remains absent from three consecutive meetings of the EC without giving satisfactory
reasons. |
| His/her activities are considered prejudicial or detrimental to the Constitution and the
objectives of the Partnership. |
17. Resignation:
An office bearer of the EC or a member of the Partnership may resign at anytime by giving
notice of his/her resignation to the President of the Partnership. The resignation shall
be effective from the date of acceptance by the President.
18. Vacancies of EC:
Any vacancy occurring on the EC due to any reason may be filled up for the unexpired term
through selection from among the members of the Partnership by the majority of the EC
office bearers present in the meeting of EC.
Secretariate and Funds of the Partnership
19. Secretariat of the Partnership:
There will be a Secretariat to render assistance to the EC and the Partnership for smooth
conduct of activities. The Partnership Secretariat will be located at an appropriate place
as decided by the EC.
20. Funds of the Partnership:
The sources of fund of the Partnership will consist of the following:
| Subscription of the general members. |
| Donations from the life members |
| Subscription of the institutional members |
| Contribution/donation received from individuals, government agencies, private
organizations, NGOs, local authorities, institutions, associations, professional bodies
etc. |
| Sale proceeds of the publications/reports etc. of the Partnership |
| Income from investment, if any |
| Funds/grants received from domestic and/or external sources including development
partners |
| Contribution from the Regional Water Partnership and GWP |
| Any fee received by the Partnership for providing consultancy services, if any. |
Bank Account, Audit, and Transfer of
Responsibility
21. Bank Account:
All funds of the Partnership will be deposited in a Scheduled Bank or other financial
institutions as approved by the EC in the name of the Partnership. The account will be
operated under the joint signatures of any two of the President, the Secretary and the
Treasurer.
22. Audit and Accounts:
Accounts of the Partnership shall be audited at least once in a year by a competent
auditor nominated by the EC. The audit fee will be approved by the EC.
23. Transfer of Responsibility:
The outgoing EC shall transfer/hand over its responsibility including assets and
liabilities to the new EC within 15 days from the date of election of the EC.
Support
from the GWP
24. Support from the Global Water Partnership:
The Global Water Partnership may assist the Partnership in the following areas, among
others:
| Develop its objectives and activities |
| Provide the contact details of potential members, if necessary |
| Raise funds for its activities and provide funds for its establishment |
| Provide information on activities of Regional Partnerships and members of other
countries. |
| Promote international and regional activities that will strengthen the linkages among
the national forum groups of different countries and the members of the international
network. |
| Provide study/research findings of the International Forum and those of other Regional
Forum. |
| Carry out study/research activities |
| Invite participants from the Bangladesh Partnership to the Seminars/Workshops organized
by the International Water Partnership. |
| Organize Seminars/Workshops in Bangladesh. |
Amendment of the Constitution, Dissolution of the Partnership
25. Amendment of the Constitution:
No amendment to any clause of the constitution will be made save in accordance with a
resolution passed at an AGM or SGM and no such resolution will be valid unless the meeting
is attended by at least 50% of the total number of members and passed by two thirds of the
members present at such meeting.
26. Dissolution of the Partnership:
The Partnership will not be dissolved unless three-fifths of the members have expressed a
wish for such dissolution by their votes delivered in person at an AGM or SGM convened for
the purpose. Any property remaining after settlement of outstanding debts and liabilities
and upon dissolution of the Partnership will not be paid or distributed among the members
of the Partnership and it will be given to some other society established under the
Societies Act (Act No. XXI of 1860) having similar objectives. The matter will be
determined by the same procedures of voting in the same AGM or SGM as applicable for
dissolution of the Partnership.
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