The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rajshahi

Speakers at a workshop here on Thursday unequivocally said the members of parliament (MPs) should be accountable to the general public for institutionalisation of democracy.

In this context, they also said statements of criminal cases; educational qualification, income, wealth and bank accounts of the MPs should be made known to all, as the voters have right to know about them.

Conscious Citizens Committee (CCC), a partner organization of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), arranged the workshop styled "Citizens Charter of Parliament and Member of Parliament" at al local restaurant.

In his address of welcome, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman elaborated the context of research on citizens' charter of parliament and member of parliament.

Former minister Sarder Amzad Hossain, former state minister Professor Zinatunnessa Talukder, former MP Professor Lutfunnessa Hossain, former RCC mayor Advocate Abdul Hadi, former VC of Rajshahi University Professor Saidur Rahman Khan and, RU Professors Dr Fayekuzzaman and Dr Anisur Rahman addressed the workshop as guest speakers with CCC Convener Advocate Golam Arif Tipu in the chair.

Stressing the need for holding free, fair and credible elections in the country to ensure good governance speakers urged upon the political parties to nominate honest, educated, accountable to people, morally sound and politically experienced people in the forthcoming national elections.

On the contrary, they called upon all political parties not to nominate black- money holders, corrupt elements and godfathers.

They also put forward a set of recommendations like formulation of code of conduct for the MPs, ensuring accountability and transparency of the political parties and holding regular face-to-face dialogue for ensuring accountability among the political parties. Provision of withdrawal of MPs from the parliament should also be enacted if he or she failed in performing duties.

Among others, Awami League leader Akhter Jahan, development workers Jaituna Khatun, Nurul Alam, Afzal Hossain, Professor Fazlul Haque, CPB leaders Enamul Haque and Abul Kalam Azad, journalists Mustafizur Rahman Khan and Shafiqul Islam and BLAST Coordinator Advocate Abdus Samad took part in the open discussion.

He speakers observed that a credible, transparent and accountable government could be formed only through free and fair elections.

A number of political leaders, NGO activists, teachers, doctors, journalists and other professionals attended the workshop and participated in the discussion.