The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Political leaders, academics, senior journalists and economists at a meet Sunday made a strong plea for holding the stalled parliamentary elections timely to save country's existence through the flourishing of democratic institutions.

Against the backdrop of the past debacle of democracy, they emphasized ensuring sustainable democracy, building consensus among political parties on some national issues and instituting National Security Council in the country to protect greater national interest.

"Democracy cannot flourish in the country without bringing back the 'cordial atmosphere among the political parties," Awami League presidium member Suranjit Sengupta told the seminar.

Bangladesh Perspective Research Foundation (BPRF) organized the national seminar on 'Democratic Transformation in Bangladesh: Opportunities and Challenges' at the CIRDAP auditorium.

Presided over by noted economist and BPRF president Prof Dr Mahbub Ullah, the seminar was also attended by senior journalist and columnists Sadeq Khan and Jaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, New Nation Editor Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon, former state minister Abul Hassan Chowdhury, Professor of Government and Politics Department of Jahangirnagar University Dr Dilara Chowdhury and poet Abdul Hye Shikder.

President of the Political Science Association of Bangladesh Prof Dr M Ataur Rahman presented a keynote paper at the seminar.

Suranjit urged the present caretaker government to immediately hold the parliamentary elections after fully lifting the emergency and hand over power to elected representatives. "Emergency should be removed for the sake of democracy," he said.

Saying that politics of consensus and the democratization of political parties are an imperative, the Awami League leader, who took a stand for political reforms in the changed context, said parliamentary executive commission should be built for democratization.

"The speaker, the leader of the house and the leader of the opposition must forge a consensus on the national issues," he said, apparently underscoring the need for redefining the democratic dispensation for a fresh start.

Mahbub Ullah said it's necessary to return the democracy in the country through holding the parliamentary elections timely for its own existence. "If there is no timely election here, this chance can be taken by external forces," he said.

Criticizing the "partisan" role of the parliament in the country, Jaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, chief editor of the official news agency BSS, said the speakers of the House are seen playing 'one-eyed' role in parliament.

"Democracy is not the most ideal form of government but it's the best form of government," he said.

He viewed that the January 11, 2007 changeover would play a positive role in the future government functioning in the country.

The change in the corridors of power with military aid put into a pause 15 years of democratic practice as it ended up in a deepening political crisis over the issues of the general election that was eventually cancelled following the changeover.

Rashed Khan Menon dismissed the changeover as an outcome of long-term conspiracy cooked up by western countries. He said the people should be awakened about such plots of alien powers.

"The election has to be held in the country as early as possible. The election, of course, should not be held under the state of emergency," said the leader of the leftwing party which is a component of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance.

Dr Dilara Chowdhury noted that parliament is a forum where all kinds of conflicts are to be resolved. "But the political leaders could not create impartial office of the Speaker for the last 15 years," she said.

The Professor of Government and Politics made a stark observation that "terrorism and corruption" had been seen in the country's democratic arena for the 15 years.