1/11 should change politicians' attitude
Barrister Shafique Ahmed, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, favours an agenda-based meeting between Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia, which he said would bring "concrete and acceptable" solutions to the existing crises.
"The leaders can discuss their previous mistakes, or they can discuss the election or the economy of the country. Many concrete and acceptable solutions may come out if the meeting is held on the basis of an agenda and the government should set it," he said.
Barrister Shafique thinks the country would plunge into another spell of uncertainty if the parliamentary elections are deferred on grounds that a party is not taking part.
"It would be regrettable if any political party refrains from participating in the election," he said in an interview with The Daily Star. The nation, which is "expecting the election to be held on schedule", would not accept any move by anyone to defer it, he added.
The senior lawyer of the Appellate Division said the 1/11 changeover must bring some changes in the attitudes of the politicians.
"A jolt like that of 1/11 was necessary and I believe politicians will now do politics for the welfare and betterment of the people and for governing the country properly, not for making their own fortune," he said.
Shafique praised the caretaker government's anti-corruption drive but said it has been done hastily which has weakened trials of a few corruption cases.
He urged political parties to forget all their differences and participate in the upcoming polls to restore democracy. They should also accept the election results, he added.
Comments