Reform issue
Abdul Gaffer Chowdhury, On e-mail
The nation paid a heavy price to restore democracy in 1990. The BNP and the AL led the movement and many sacrificed their lives but ultimately what we have achieved? The people extended support to Khaleda and Hasina in good faith, but they could not live up to expectations of common people. The BNP in its second term got 216 parliament seats which was basically a statement against godfathers, corruption & terrorism but the BNP failed to read the public mind, rather they thought they got a lease agreement for five years to run the country. I remember the jubilation of the people when the Ershad regime was brought down in a mass upsurge and they thought finally true democracy would come to this country but after 15 years of democracy what we have got we have witnessed how democratic and state institutions were destroyed . The first attack came in 1991 when Article 70 was passed-- it barred MPs to speak against their party leader and we have also seen how parliament was made ineffective, how parliamentary committees were made a showpiece, how the Public Service Commission was politicised. It even cannot hold any public examination and how do we expect to find dynamic and honest officials who will lead the administration and represent Bangladesh in any forum ? We have seen how the Election Commission was run and it could not even prepare a proper electoral roll despite wasting tax payers' money. We have also seen how the Judiciary was politicised. Even Bangabhaban was not spared. The news of political bigwigs is coming up every morning; every newspaper is carrying scary news. What a gift to the nation! We would urge the government to enact tough laws like banning convicts from running for any public office and holding any post in any political party. We also urge that the price of essentials be kept within the reach of common people. Otherwise, the good deeds will fail to create any impression in people's minds.
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