Bdnews
On the third day of the ongoing pre-poll dialogues between political parties and the government yesterday, the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) told the latter that reforming the country’s body politic will not be possible through ad hoc measures and top down pressure.
CPB also called for decentralisation of state power rather than redistribution of presidential and prime ministerial powers, and warned at the same time that formation of the Truth and Accountability Commission (TAC) ‘might end up being a political compromise bailing out big fishes of corruption’.
Meanwhile, Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman, who spoke on behalf of the military backed caretaker government, said the government is thinking of holding a special meeting on economic matters with major political parties.
“Political reform is an imperative. But, political reforms will not be successful through ad hoc measures and pressure from the top,” said CPB President Manzurul Ahsan Khan during a joint post dialogue news briefing at the Chief Adviser’s Office.
Manzur said political reforms can only be successful and sustainable with widespread support from a politically aware well organised public.
Calling for an immediate withdrawal on the ban on politics, he said honest political parties should not be punished for the misdeeds of a handful of parties which abused power being in the last three governments.
The CPB chief also said a new ‘national charter’ is not required, and if one is to be created, that should be based on the country’s 1972 constitution.
“The distorted constitution must be restored to its originality of 1972. The 1972 constitution is our national charter,” said Manzur, later adding that non-participatory efforts to create a ‘national charter’ will be akin to a limited and shoved down the throat democracy.
He also said although CPB is open to discussions about redistribution of presidential and prime ministerial powers, the measure will not empower the people as it might still concentrate power in the hands of two people instead of one.
“The real issue is empowering the people. That is why concrete and effective measures have to be taken to ensure democratic decentralisation of power,” said Manzur.
Manzur called for strengthening the ongoing anti-corruption drive, but said recent efforts to reach a ‘compromise’ might only end up ‘appeasing the corruptionists’.
“People are starting to think, the anti-corruption drive is being used to implement a certain political blueprint or game plan,” said the CPB president.
He said recently the anti-corruption drive has lost its commitment and integrity by appeasing the corruptionists through handing out concessions to them.
“The initiative to create the truth commisssion could be seen as an effort to save the big fishes,” Manzur quipped.
CPB also demanded allowing of trade union operations, an immediate stop to foreign diplomats’ interference in the affairs of the country, trials of war criminals, and continuation of the Women’s Development Policy.
Manzur said CPB will not buy into any ‘national consensus’ by selling out its ideology, but will support a ‘national agreement on rules of the game’ to end political bickering.
CPB also called for decentralisation of state power rather than redistribution of presidential and prime ministerial powers, and warned at the same time that formation of the Truth and Accountability Commission (TAC) ‘might end up being a political compromise bailing out big fishes of corruption’.
Meanwhile, Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman, who spoke on behalf of the military backed caretaker government, said the government is thinking of holding a special meeting on economic matters with major political parties.
“Political reform is an imperative. But, political reforms will not be successful through ad hoc measures and pressure from the top,” said CPB President Manzurul Ahsan Khan during a joint post dialogue news briefing at the Chief Adviser’s Office.
Manzur said political reforms can only be successful and sustainable with widespread support from a politically aware well organised public.
Calling for an immediate withdrawal on the ban on politics, he said honest political parties should not be punished for the misdeeds of a handful of parties which abused power being in the last three governments.
The CPB chief also said a new ‘national charter’ is not required, and if one is to be created, that should be based on the country’s 1972 constitution.
“The distorted constitution must be restored to its originality of 1972. The 1972 constitution is our national charter,” said Manzur, later adding that non-participatory efforts to create a ‘national charter’ will be akin to a limited and shoved down the throat democracy.
He also said although CPB is open to discussions about redistribution of presidential and prime ministerial powers, the measure will not empower the people as it might still concentrate power in the hands of two people instead of one.
“The real issue is empowering the people. That is why concrete and effective measures have to be taken to ensure democratic decentralisation of power,” said Manzur.
Manzur called for strengthening the ongoing anti-corruption drive, but said recent efforts to reach a ‘compromise’ might only end up ‘appeasing the corruptionists’.
“People are starting to think, the anti-corruption drive is being used to implement a certain political blueprint or game plan,” said the CPB president.
He said recently the anti-corruption drive has lost its commitment and integrity by appeasing the corruptionists through handing out concessions to them.
“The initiative to create the truth commisssion could be seen as an effort to save the big fishes,” Manzur quipped.
CPB also demanded allowing of trade union operations, an immediate stop to foreign diplomats’ interference in the affairs of the country, trials of war criminals, and continuation of the Women’s Development Policy.
Manzur said CPB will not buy into any ‘national consensus’ by selling out its ideology, but will support a ‘national agreement on rules of the game’ to end political bickering.
No comments:
Post a Comment