‘Money and muscle cannot be route to elective office’

Centre for Policy Dialogue Chairman Prof Rehman Sobhan yesterday said in an opposition-free political landscape -- where the government is exposed to little accountability, the quality of governance tends to deteriorate.

“A free media and strong civil society could partially compensate for a weak political opposition,” the eminent economist said while delivering a lecture on “Sustaining democracy in Bangladesh: The political legacy of Tajuddin Ahmad,” in the capital.

Asiatic Society of Bangladesh organised the lecture.

“A democratic order, which is responsive to the needs of our people over the next half century, would need to ensure that it would be truly representative of all the people,” said Rehman Sobhan, a member of the first Planning Commission in Bangladesh.

“We would need to ensure that money and muscle power would no longer serve as the most effective route to elective office,” he added.

“We would, at the same time, need to make provisions for ensuring that candidates from similar social backgrounds as Bangabandhu [Sheikh Mujibur Rahman] and Tajuddin, with modest means, who commanded public respect and were incorruptible, are provided with opportunities to enter the parliament,” he said.

He also said it should be ensured that the executive remains fully accountable to such a parliament.

The parliament is, however, only one pillar of democratic process, Prof Sobhan said, adding, “We would need to restore freedom of the media, not just by permitting a proliferation of outlets, but by providing them with freedom to express themselves on all issues without fear of intimidation, legal harassment or incarceration.”

He also said civil society organisations should be strengthened and encouraged to express themselves on public issues, once again without fear of harassment or abuse.

Rehman Sobhan said Tajudddin, the first prime minister of Bangladesh, was an unsung hero of Bangladesh’s history, who used to practice politics for the interests of people.

Tajuddin was by temperament a worker and an activist; his political intelligence, commitment and organisational skills were exceptional but he never aspired to use those to seek elevation to the highest rank of public office, said Prof Sobhan, also a close aide of Tajuddin Ahmed during and after the Liberation War.

Eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain said Tajuddin’s life is a source of inspiration. “He used to think about ways how to change to society and state for the betterment of people,” he added.

“It is our failure that we could not portray Tajuddin Ahmad in due manner,” Astatic Society of Bangladesh President Mahfuza Khanam said while presiding over the lecture.

Barrister Amir-Ul Islam, another close aide of Tajuddin during the Liberation War; Tajuddin’s daughters Sharmin Ahmad and Simeen Hussain Rimi; and Asiatic Society of Bangladesh convenor Abdur Rahim -- called on all to uphold the spirit and philosophy of Tajuddin and follow his footsteps.

Eminent historian Professor Sirajul Islam, rights activist Hameeda Hossain, political scientist Rounaq Jahan, CPD executive director Prof Mustafizur Rahman, and a number of Dhaka University teachers were present at the lecture.