PM's speech focuses on success, lacks future plan
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's speech to the nation was basically narration of her government's successes, criticism of previous governments and she avoided talking about specific issues and future plans, civil society members said yesterday.
A number of them contradicted her claim that the Anti-Corruption Commission was working independently and that prices of essentials were stable. They, however, appreciated the boost in agricultural production.
Hafizuddin Khan, former adviser to a caretaker government, said, "I expected that the prime minister would talk about the government's plans to increase energy capacity, by extracting coal or gas and generating more power, lack of which is now a major hurdle towards development… But there was no mention of it."
The condition of the economy was managed last year but the basic settings for accelerated growth could not be made, he said.
More important for her was to inform the nation about her government's future plans and ask service providers and people to help implement them, he said, adding that without talking about those she narrated the achievements, which people already know.
There was no need to criticise the previous governments since it is a bad political culture, Hafizuddin Khan said. He said she expressed her government's strong willingness to curb corruption but the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament is not that active.
"Neither the Right to Information Commission nor the National Human Rights Commission was made effective," said Hafizuddin Khan, also chair of the Transparency International Bangladesh trustee board.
She pledged to ensure homes for all by 2015, which appeared to be very ambitious, and she did not elaborate the plan or how she would reach the goal, Hafizuddin noted.
Ain O Salish Kendra Executive Director Sultana Kamal said the prime minister's claim that the ACC was working independently does not reflect the reality.
"The ACC chairman does not appear to be satisfied. Besides, we saw many cases getting withdrawn on political consideration," she said.
She said food production was good last year but prices of essentials could not be made stable due to the lack of effective regulation to stabilise prices of essentials.
"We found sudden price hike of certain commodities," said Sultana Kamal, also former adviser to a caretaker government.
Dhaka University professor of international relations department Imtiaz Ahmed said the government in its first year went through some tough times like the BDR mutiny incident and trial of Bangabandhu murder case.
He said, "There was not much in the speech to be frustrated about but this year people will judge the performance of the government and they will not be ready to listen to the accusations she had made today against previous governments."
He said the premier's call to the opposition to return to parliament was surely a positive gesture but that could not give people the confidence that the opposition would return.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry President Annisul Huq said the macro-economic situation was stable during the last year but Bangladesh failed to attract direct investment from home and abroad.
He suggested that the government develops the infrastructures and brings pace in the implementation of annual development programmes.
POLITICIANS' VIEWS
BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said Hasina failed to explain her position on many burning issues like Tipaimukh Dam and transit for India.
"What we expected from her is clarification of her position regarding the issues of Tipaimukh dam, transit, sharing of waters of all common rivers and maritime boundary… but she has really disappointed the nation," Moudud Ahmed told The Daily Star.
"Law and order situation is beyond control. Prices of essentials are skyrocketing. But she did not talk about those," he added.
Jatiya Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) termed Hasina's speech encouraging and inspiring.
Anisul Islam Mahmud, senior presidium member of Jatiya Party, told The Daily Star, "She appropriately called upon all to develop a trend of fair and positive politics breaking away from the traditional political culture."
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haq Inu said it was realistic of Hasina to call upon the opposition to return to the parliament.
PEOPLE'S VIEWS
Barek, a rickshaw puller at Moghbazar in the capital, said, "Hasina in her speech said prices of rice are between Tk 20 and 24 but we cannot find any rice below Tk 30. It is not acceptable," he said.
Ahidul Khan, another rickshaw puller at Begunbaria area, said, "She [Hasina] said prices of rice and wheat have been reduced but she did not mention that the price of pulse is Tk 130 a kg and soya bean oil is Tk 80.”
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