The main point of discussion on Sunday was the mutual accountability between the government and donors, as outlined in the Joint Cooperation Strategy (JCS) agreed upon earlier this year. The Bangladesh Development Forum had determined that this strategy would help coordinate development efforts. The session on Sunday, led by finance minister A M A Muhith, aimed to gather feedback on the draft framework from members of civil society such as economists, NGO leaders, and former bureaucrats. However, the focus of the discussion was primarily on the details of mutual accountability. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, head of the Palli Karma Shahayak Fund and a member of high-powered committees on education policy and climate change, noted that issues such as unemployment, underemployment, and education were not adequately addressed in the draft JCS. He expressed concern that agencies often publish growth projections that contradict government forecasts, and emphasized the importance of harmonizing these projections. Ahmad also expressed skepticism about the reliance on development partners for such projections. The draft JCS focuses on improving "mutual accountability" to enhance aid effectiveness, but former caretaker government advisor A B Mirza Azizul Islam highlighted that the draft did not specify how this accountability would be measured. He stated that there are no clear, measurable criteria to assess the JCS's performance. Other participants also agreed with this sentiment. Regarding aid conditionality, Islam mentioned that some conditions imposed by development partners are not relevant. He suggested that the government create project portfolios for development partners to select specific projects for funding. Mustafizur Rahman, executive director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue in Dhaka, highlighted the developed nations' pledge to provide 0.7 percent of their national income as aid to impoverished countries. "What has happened to the responsibility associated with that commitment?" Suranjit Sengupta, a senior Awami League leader, emphasized the importance of parliamentary discussions on the JCS draft. He stated that the framework is intended for the well-being of the people, and the parliament represents those individuals. Mashiur Rahman, the prime minister's economic advisor, proposed the establishment of a body consisting of government and development partner representatives to ensure mutual accountability by overseeing the effectiveness and efficiency of projects. The finance minister, concluding the session, noted that the draft lacked important aspects such as migration, land use planning, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). He stated that having a land use plan is crucial for the country's organized development, emphasizing the importance of ICT as a valuable tool for progress. Additionally, he noted that ICT can promote transparency and reduce corruption.