The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a roundtable said reform in political parties is a must for an effective democracy in Bangladesh. However, they told that the reforms should be carried out by the parties themselves.

They suggested the government to lift the state of emergency as soon as possible.

They were speaking at a roundtable on 'Reforms of Political Parties for an Effective Democracy' organised by Sojan, a civil society forum, at the National Press Club yesterday.

Prof Mozzafar Ahmad, Chairman, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) moderated the discussion while Sojan General Secretary Dr Badiul Alam Mojumder presented the paper.

Gona Forum president Dr Kamal Hossain, former advisers of the caretaker government Hafizuddin Khan, ASM Shahjahan, Unity for Political Reforms convener ASM Abdur Rab, BNP leader Mofazzal Karim, Enam Ahmed Chowdhury, Awami League presidium member Suranjit Sen Gupta, Col (Retd) Faruk Khan, Jatiya Party leader GM Kader and eminent columnist and researcher Syed Abul Moksud, among others, took part at the discussion.

Prof Muzzafar Ahmad said people have questions about the structure of political parties, its management system , decision making process, finance and other various issues.

Suggesting a qualitative change in the constitution of the political parties he said, ''We want to see democratic norms in practice''.

Democracy in the country could not be established without internal democracy in the political parties, he observed.

Dr Kamal Hossain said the existing electoral process are to be changed and for this reason the present electoral laws should be amended at first.

He urged all not to make the word 'reform' controversial and added. "It is the word of the people, conscious and responsible citizens.

Terming the reform as a continuous process ASM Shahjahan said it must be 'do it yourself' subject while Hafizuddin Khan observed that no one should claim that there is no need of reform or reform has already been completed.

Suranjit Sen Gupta said though reform is a must we must not forget the history of the political parties. Without involving the political parties, reform will not be successful, he stated .

ASM Abdur Rab observed that compromise among political parties is needed to enact a law in bringing reform inside the parties .