Work together on issues of national interest

Speaker Abdul Hamid Advocate yesterday said instances would be created to work together on issues of national priority, moving beyond narrow partisan or group interests, to empower people and get rid of poverty.

“Narrow partisan interests always eat up the very fundamental essence of democracy. We do not want to bring back the bitter experience of our recent past,” he said addressing the launch of a leadership orientation of the members of parliament at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.

All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) and Peoples' Empowerment Trust (PET) are organising the five-year programme in association with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), End Poverty Millennium Campaign, Department for International Development (DFID), Shiree, Oxfam and Manusher Jonno Foundation.

Throughout the five years, the orientation sessions for the lawmakers will include climate change, trade policies, poverty, human rights, gender, rights of ethnic people, right to information, among other issues.

Terming members of the parliament the lighthouses of the nation, Abdul Hamid said he believes the lawmakers will initiate discussion on development issues with authentic information and relevant substance for appropriate policy direction and national consensus. The orientation programme will greatly help them in this regard, he noted.

Stating that poverty cannot be reduced simply raising the level of income and increasing economic growth, the Speaker said faulty development policies and programmes often cause poverty.

“Hence, we need to carefully review and analyse the policies and programmes. Being the constitutionally designated policy directors, MPs should take the responsibility to give directions to national development,” Abdul Hamid said.

Chief Whip of the Opposition in the Parliament Joynal Abedin Faruk said many flaws remain in the laws due to lack of adequate attention of the lawmakers and conventional mindset of the bureaucrats. Appropriate laws and policies could be framed with better knowledge base of the MPs, he noted.

He also urged the Speaker of the Parliament to do everything to make the parliament lively and truly effective for strengthening democratic institutions.

Awami League lawmaker Saber Hossain Chowdhury said there might be political differences, but for crucial national issues like climate change and poverty alleviation, there must be bipartisan approach.

Centre for Policy Dialogue Executive Director Mustafizur Rahman said people in Bangladesh have a certain level of income, but with the appropriate policy decisions of the government, that income can grow much faster.

Manusher Jonno Foundation Executive Director Shaheen Anam said lack of information is a major reason behind peoples' deprivation.

The government should form information commission immediately and make sure that all ministries and even NGOs disclose public information to establish good governance, she said.

Deputy Leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Chief Whip Abdus Shahid, State Minister for Home Affairs Tanjim Ahmed Sohel Taj, BNP lawmaker Shahiduddin Chowdhury Any, UNDP Resident Coordinator Renata Lok Dessallien also spoke at the programme chaired by Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Shawkat Ali.