Indian attitude authoritarian

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman yesterday said India had demonstrated an authoritarian attitude by unilaterally deciding to build the Tipaimukh dam without any consultation with Bangladesh.
"If our neighbouring country continues to show an authoritarian attitude toward us, how will we build another South Asia free from discrimination?” he questioned.
Mizanur Rahman was speaking at a plenary meeting on “Limitations of representative democracy in South Asia and way out” at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University.
The South Asia Social Forum (SASF) General Council and DU jointly organised the meeting on the second day of the five-day South Asia Social Forum 2011.
Claiming that human rights of the people were being abused in South Asian countries, the NHRC chief said it was impossible to uphold the rights of people if discrimination, fundamentalism and communalism were not removed.
He emphasised overthrowing capitalism in the interest of a proper growth of democracy in the region.
Presenting the keynote paper, eminent economist Prof MM Akash pointed out corruption and class division as the major limitations of representative democracy.
Indian women rights activist Juliana Cunha also spoke at the meeting with Justice Mohammad Ghulam Rabbani in the chair.
Earlier, in a session on “Promoting gender equality in South Asian countries: Lessons, challenges and opportunities,” speakers stressed empowering women politically and economically in order to put an end to gender discrimination.
Addressing the session as a guest speaker, Indian gender specialist Kamla Bhasin underscored mutual cooperation between men and women towards eliminating gender discrimination.
Gender specialist Sheepa Hafiza presented the keynote paper at the session with Bangladesh Mahila Parishad President Ayesha Khanam in the chair.