|
Regional dialogue at Rajshahi
Speakers at the regional dialogue in
Rajshahi (August 5, 2006) demanded
distribution of parliamentary seats,
ministries and the posts of standing
committee heads in proportion to
votes received by the political
parties.
They pointed out that the campaign
for honest and dedicated candidates
should reach the grassroots level
and there should be a mechanism to
implement the suggestions made in
the citizens' dialogues.
They also demanded preparation of a
voter list of the indigenous people
through those who know indigenous
languages. The speakers also pointed
out that the indigenous people
should not be subjected to
harassment before and after a
general election.
They said candidates should disclose
the status of their wealth to the
people in his or her locality as
well as to the Election Commission.
A total of 90 persons including
mainstream political parties' local
leaders, teachers, lawyers, NGO
workers and cultural activists took
part in the dialogue that continued
for more than eight hours.
The Centre For Policy Dialogue in
collaboration with The Daily Star,
the Prothom Alo and Channel i
organised the regional dialogue as
part of a civil society initiative
for accountable development.
CPD Executive Director Debapriya
Bhattacharya conducted the dialogue
in Nanking Darbar Hall.
Prominent educationist and
litterateur Hasan Azizul Haque
presided over the dialogue. Former
vice-chancellor of Rajshahi
University Saidur Rahman Khan,
Public Procecutor Qaumrul Monir and
President of Shwacheton Nagorik
Commttee Rajshahi Golam Arif Tipu
were special guests.
Former adviser to a caretaker
government Hafiz Uddin Khan spoke on
behalf of the Nagorik Committee
formed for preparing a vision paper
for the year 2021. The editor of The
Daily Star also participated in the
dialogue on behalf of the organisers.
The speakers said lawmakers should
work in unison for the development
of the northern region which is
deprived of investment and
commercial benefit. Entrepreneurs
never come to the north due to lack
of gas supply and other logistical
support, they pointed out.
Demanding immediate disbandment of
the present Election Commission
(EC), Saidur Rahman Khan said the
next EC must be acceptable to all
political parties.
The EC also must be free from the
influence of the government's
executive body, he suggested. Khan
also demanded reforms in the EC and
the system of caretaker government.
He observed that black money is one
of the major barriers to free and
fair election.
M Hafiz Uddin Khan stressed on
reforms in the EC for a free and
fair election ensuring largest
possible participation of the
electorate.
"A powerful election controlling
institution is necessary for
elections. Public demand for its
reform is not illogical and it must
be properly heeded", he said.
He also said election related
litigations should be adjudicated
properly and quickly so that
aggrieved persons can get justice on
time.
Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of
The Daily Star, said it is our
birthright to be citizens of this
country and being citizens we have
the right to know how our country is
being run.
"We, who vote, suffer from
mean-mindedness and are not cautious
of our political rights, providing
opportunities to bad politicians to
deceive us. Raising voices against
anomalies and problems is our
political right".
He called upon all to be proud and
feel high enough to be voters in a
democratic and independent country.
"We will play our political role
without being partisans and our
politics is not without moral
value," he said.
Prof Hasan Azizul Haque, who chaired
the dialogue, said a general
election under the existing
condition would bring disaster in
the society. He urged the civil
society members to develop a
mechanism so that the suggestions
made in the dialogue could be
implemented.
Describing the present
socio-economic condition as
dangerous, he said: "We want to come
out of this situation. We want that
our resources are distributed
without any discrimination to any
particular group."
Former minister Sardar Amjad Hossain
pointed out that the northern region
including Rajshahi has been deprived
of industrialisation and adequate
allocations for development.
Fazle Hossain Badsha, a politburo
member of Bangladesher Workers'
Party, said voters should be assured
of proper voting and results.
Probin Hitoisi Sangsad President Dr
Sultan Ahmed said lawmakers should
be properly trained up on how they
can play role as parliamentarian for
the welfare of the people.
Advocate Rawshan Ara laid emphasis
on discussions between politicians
and common people. Accountability of
the political leaders is necessary
for development and checking
corruption, she observed.
Rajshahi Bar Association General
Secretary Hamidul Haque said
“lawmakers' lack of knowledge and
attachment with business have turned
parliament into a trade body.”
Dil Sitara Chuni, Rajshahi chapter
chief of Bangladesh National Women
Lawyers' Association, demanded
direct voting to elect woman
lawmakers, good governance and
independent judiciary.
Ferdous Ahmed said intellectuals
should care more for common people
and promote only good ideas. He
questioned the necessity of student
politics.
Kazi Labanya of Rajshahi Sahitya
Parishad said it has become the
politicians' nature to forget
promises after winning elections.
Zamat Khan, convenor of Rajshahi
Rakkha Sangram Parishad, criticised
governments for corruption and
imbalance in development.
"Governments turn a blind eye to
those who make huge money in a short
time. Politicians do not love the
country. We want a change to this
situation," he said urging patriotic
people to come to politics.
"We want to see that people can use
ballots properly," said Golam Arif
Tipu, adding that people would find
out the solution to their problems.
Quamrul Monir stressed regular
presence of the opposition members
in parliament to make it effective.
He said parliamentary standing
committees should be strengthened
for keeping regular watch on the
government activities.
Monir spoke in favour of 'crossfire'
of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab)
in curbing terrorism and criminal
activities. He urged the civil
society to be more active as it
would “help strengthen democracy.”
Mahtab Uddin, editor of Weekly Gana
Khabar, expressed concern over the
trend of turning politics into a
corrupt one.
Shafiqul Islam, acting president of
Metropolitan Press Club, Rajshahi
expressed concern over 'power
politics' and said: "We don't want
any politics devoid of ideology and
pro-liberation sentiment."
Prof Zillur Rahman, president of
Rajshahi University Teachers'
Association, said one crore people
of northern region are deprived of
development. "All regions of the
country need to be developed
equally".
He stressed developing a healthy
mentality, especially in those
engaged in serving the people, and
called for spread of education.
Malay Bhoumik, RU teacher and
cultural activist, said the law
enforcement agencies should be
brought under control of the
Election Commission during the next
general election.
He said if the political parties
want to select honest candidates in
polls, they must look for them
outside the parties.
Debapriya Bhattacharya said there
has been development in the country
but with disparity. 'The only
solution of our political problems
is a free and fair election'.
Shah Ajam Shantunu, RU teachar, no
objectives of the civil society
could be achieved without political
support. "So, political parties
should be forced to include people's
demands in their manifestos".
"Our politicians are telling lies
continuously but they are always
forgiven. Politicians'
accountability must be ensured".
Prof Tarek Saiful Islam of RU
economics department, called upon
political parties to nominate honest
and competent candidates in
election.
The first mayor of Rajshahi Abdul
Hadi said, "It is our duty to elect
honest people. We should not expect
anything good after electing one in
exchange of money".
Sadrul ISlam, Rajshahi Paribahan
Malik Samity secretary, criticised
the government for price spiral of
goods, 'crossfire' and corruption in
the energy sector.
ANM Khademul Islam, vice chairman of
Rajshahi Engineers Institute,
proposed that polls-related duties
should be given to officials other
than deputy commissioners and
upazila nirbahi officers.
Freedom fighter Nawsher Ali of
ShilpaKala Academy said listing
corrupt people is needed more than
finding out honest people.
Anil Marandi, president of National
Aborigines Council, demanded
selecting aborigine candidates in
areas dominated by them. He also
demanded reserved seats for
aborigines in parliament and a
separate ministry for them.
"Festivity grows in the country with
the election nearing. But aborigines
suffer from fear of atrocities and
eviction by political cadres."
Sadar Ali, owner of Sapura Silk
Mills, said provisions should be
made to prevent dishonest people,
criminals and loan defaulters from
contesting polls.
Rajshahi Mohila Parishad Secretary
Kalpana Roy said security of people
should be ensured both before and
after the elections.
The government has cheated Rajshahi
people by not providing natural gas
in violation of its election pledge,
she said.
Prof Khairul Alam emphasised a close
watch on the next elections and
taking the dialogue process to
grassroots-level.
Prof Mizan Uddin of RU merit must be
well nurtured to end the appalling
political situation in the country.
Rajshahi Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal
President Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul
the election commissioners should be
well aware of their
responsibilities.
Prof Golam Sabbir Sattar said
political parties should be
registered so thatv oters can be
sure of their manifestos.
District Awami League President
Tajul ISlam Faruk said corrupt
election officials, and not black
money, pose the biggest challenge to
free and fair elections.
Copied from
The Daily Star website (Sunday,
August 06, 2006)
Download
supplement published in The Daily Star
|
