Join dialogue for sake of democracy

Eminent academic Prof Muzaffer Ahmad yesterday said forming national government at this stage would delay the return to democracy.
“The move towards democracy would tumble if national government is formed now. Any change in the pattern of the government at this stage would delay the return to democracy by holding election at the end of this year,” he said at a roundtable.
The roundtable titled 'Prospect of national government in Bangladesh: Hard power or soft power approach' was organised by Bangladesh Heritage Foundation (BHF) at Bilia auditorium in the city.
Speaking as chair, Prof Muzaffer urged the political parties to join the dialogue and hold meetings within themselves to reach consensus on national issues.
“For the sake of democracy the political parties should join the dialogue and hold talks within themselves to arrive at consensus on some national issues,” he added.
“We want a free and fair election by the end of this year so that a new elected government can speak for people from the next year,” Prof Muzaffer said.
“We have seen three caretaker governments in the past one and half years. We had to rescue the country from the first one, the second one tumbled in the middle of their path, and now the third one is going on. We do not want any other changes which may delay the return to democracy. We should move towards participatory democracy,” he added.
Prof Muzaffer urged the civil society to be vocal for the right of people, raise voice for good governance and sensitise people about good governance and their rights.
“The present government assumed its responsibility with a lot of support from people but their popularity has deceased, perhaps they have taken a long time for transition,” he added.
Prof Muzaffer said they also had problems of working with non- neutral bureaucracy, and the next government will also face the same problems which must be removed.”
Journalist Sadek Khan presented a keynote paper at the roundtable.
Earlier in his welcome speech, BHF Chairman and former Ambassador Wali-ur Rahman said in the backdrop of socio-political reform programmes of the caretaker government, the state could look for a national unity government for an interim period to fill the political vacuum.
Gono Forum presidium member Pankaj Bhattacharya, former Ambassador Harun Ar Rashid, and Sinha MA Sayeed, executive director of the Institute of Leadership and Security Studies, also spoke at the roundtable.