The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Adviser for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, and Information Barrister Mainul Hosein yesterday called for following the ideals of Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and Sher-e-Bangla Fazlul Haque. Otherwise, democracy will not take roots and we will have to pay the same price time and again, he said.

Addressing a memorial meeting in observance of the 44th death anniversary of Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy as chief guest, the Law Adviser said the national identity was not achieved through one or two incidents, rather it is the outcome of the thoughts and aspirations of the statesmen like Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and Sher-e-Bangla Fazlul Haque.

If we could cherish the thoughts and aspirations of the leaders like Suhrawardy and Sher-e-Bangla, people like them could come to the forefront and bring about a positive change in the society, he said.

Presided over by Dr Kamal Hossain, Chairman of the Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs (BILIA), the meeting was also addressed, by Justice Naimuddin Ahmed and BILIA Director Ambassador Waliur Rahman.

He regretted that we have forgotten the contributions of Suhrawardy and Sher-e-Bangla.

After the independence, we have hardly seen a leader, who upholds principles, values and ideals, he said.

The Law Adviser said though Suhrawardy had come from an aristocratic and educated family, he started politics for the working class. His politics was for the people who were repressed and oppressed.

Referring to the contribution of Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy in establishing the Bangali national identity, he said it is not enough only to say that we are a Bengali nation rather we have to carry forward the ideals and thoughts that Suhrawardy envisaged in building the nation.

The Bangali national identity does not mean that we will support autocracy, rather we believe in democracy and our leaders should be self-sacrificing, honest people, who will hold themselves above personal interest and any greed for wealth, he said.

He said Suhrawardy taught us that leadership would be for protecting the interest of the people not self-aggrandisement.

Barrister Mainul Hosein said the Liberation War did not occur overnight and we have to remember who had done the groundwork of the war of liberation.

"We do not recall the contributions of our forefathers," he regretted.

Dr Kamal Hossain said the country needed an effective Parliament involving people through a free and fair election where there would be accountability and transparency.

"We have to bring about meaningful changes and hold a meaningful election so that people can say that they have elected their representatives according to their choices.

He emphasised on seeking people's mandate if there was any move to bring amendments to the Constitution.

Recalling the close relationship between Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia and Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, he said both of them together planned many democratic movements of the then East Pakistan that subsequently led to achieving the country's independence in 1971.

Justice Naimuddin Ahmed said, "We could not uphold the democratic tradition that was left by Suhrawardy and Sher-e-Bangla."

He said the corruption-free society that was dreamt by the national leaders is yet to be materialised.

Justice Naimuddin called upon all to extend their all-out cooperation to the present caretaker government for establishing a corruption-free democracy in the country.