Unite again to consolidate democracy

President Abdul Hamid yesterday said the nation was required once again to forge unwavering unity to uphold the spirit of the Liberation War and rule of law, to consolidate democracy, and to develop a "Golden Bengal" as dreamt by the father of the nation. 

We can repay our debt to the blood of martyrs only if we enhance the pace of democratisation and socioeconomic development ignoring our differences of party, creed and religion, Hamid said in his address to the inaugural sitting of the parliament's New Year session. 

The president in his written address, which was earlier approved by the cabinet, lauded the government's role for carrying out development activities.

Upholding the constitutional process, the president said, the present government was running the country "to overcome the challenges of maintaining the progress of democracy."

"That continuation of democratic practices can resolve various problems of the nation has been reflected in all activities of the government," he said.

He said the government was putting in relentless efforts to establish good governance in the country with utmost importance attached to "the promotion of democracy, consolidation of rule of law and maintenance of social peace and achievement of economic growth." 

Both the ruling and opposition bench MPs welcomed the president's address by thumping desks.

The parliament went into the New Year session amid political unrest with the BNP-led alliance enforcing an indefinite countywide blockade in protest at the government's move to keep Khaleda Zia confined to her office and to obstruct the alliance from holding a rally on January 5, the first anniversary of the January 5 parliamentary election.

The president did not say anything about the current political situation. He, however, referred to the political unrest that prevailed during the January 5 election.

"The present government assumed responsibility amid political unrest, arson, vandalism, assault and killing launched by some political parties in the name of movement," he said.

He said the current parliament was constituted through a free and fair January 5 parliamentary election by upholding the constitution as well as the trend of parliamentary democracy.

Functioning within the democratic structure, he said, the government has "undertaken all-out initiatives to ensure transparency and accountability, remain respectful to human rights and rule of law", and implement measures to materialise the dream for economic advancement.

The president said significant progress had been made in the socioeconomic sector owning to implementation of various programmes taken up under the Perspective Plan and the Sixth Five-Year plan prepared on the basis of the Awami League's Vision 2021.

He said Bangladesh would become a middle income country by 2021 and this was exactly the nation's aspiration.

In his 76-page address, the president described the government's various development activities and achievements in different sectors. He however read out a short version of his address with the remaining parts included in the parliament proceedings.

The session that began yesterday will continue till March 5. The House will hold a 45-hour-long discussion on the president's address, according to a decision taken at a meeting of the parliament's Business Advisory Committee yesterday.