MARCH 19, 2006

Democracy in party a must for good governance speakers tell workshop

Staff Correspondent - The Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Practice of democracy within the party is a must to help establish good governance in the country, said the speakers at a workshop.

The workshop titled 'Obligations to political reform and the ninth general election' was organised by Shujan (Sushasaner Janye Nagorik), at Swanirbhar Auditorium in the city.

Speaking at the workshop Prof Muzaffer Ahmad (above), a noted economist and Sujon president, said pillage is going on unabatedly in the country as dishonest, black money holders and muscle men are being elected in elections.

He said in last general election the lowest expenditure was Tk 1 crore and the highest was Tk 27 crore which clearly shows that only the black money holders can contest the election.

 

" We have to break this culture immediately in order to save our democracy, he said, adding, "We have to create awareness among people about their democratic rights," said Prof Muzaffer.

He said people from every sector of the country have to come foreword to save hard earned democracy.

Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, member-secretary of Shujon and country director of Hunger Project, said "Politics in Bangladesh has been criminalised where people still cast their vote considering the election symbol of the parties and not the quality of the candidates."

"Every candidate should submit an affidavit stating his or her qualifications, wealth and other relevant information along with the nomination paper," he said, adding that there should be a provision for punishment in case of giving wrong information in the affidavit.

 

The practice of democratic principles and existence of effective democratic institutions are needed to ensure election of honest, competent and dedicated individuals to public offices, he added.

"If we really want to have a functional democracy in the country, there must be a systematic reform requiring compulsory registration of political parties and strict disclosure of finances and qualifications of the elected representatives," Badiul said.

The speakers said the new voter list is a challenge to democracy as it has not been prepared in proper way.

They said 1.64 crore competent citizens were not enlisted in the voter list whereas 64 lakh fake voters have been enlisted in it.

 

Adviser to former caretaker government Hafiz Uddin Khan, Justice Kazi Ebadul Haque, Dhaka University Teacher Prof Latifa Akhand, Jahangirnagar University Teacher Prof M Masud and representatives of different NGOs also spoke at the workshop.