The Asian South Pacific Education Watch Report was formally launched on 21 April 2008 (during the Global Action Week for Education, 21-26 April 2008) at the LGED Auditorium, Level-2, Agargaon, Dhaka. Ms. Rasheda K. Choudhury, Hon’ble Adviser, MoPME, MoWCA, MoCA, Govt. of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh was the chief guest. Mr. Kazi Rafiqul Alam, Board Member, ASPBAE, Mr. Malama Meleisea, Director & Representative, UNESCO Bangladesh, Mr. Theo Oltheten, First Secretary Education, EKN were attended as special guests. Mr. Kazi Fazlur Rahman, Former Advisor, Caretaker Government & Chairperson, Education Watch Advisory Board, Bangladesh chair the session. A nine member delegations from the Asian and South Pacific Countries were attended the session and present their specific country Education Watch findings. Prof. Kazi Saleh Ahmed, former Vice Chancellor, Jahangir Nagar University presented Bangladesh findings.

The report is an independent, alternative, citizen-based assessment of the status of basic education in 10 countries across the Asia Pacific region compiled and produced by Asian South Pacific Bureau for Adult Education-ASPBAE. It has been designed to strengthen local and community-based capacities for claim-making on education, and intended to bolster national education coalitions’ capacities to sharply define, pursue and achieve their objectives through grassroots-based data and information.

Renowned academics, concerned government agency personnel, development partners, NGO and other concerned civil society representatives were present on the occasion.