Democracy passes crucial time in Bangladesh: discussion
30 May 2021Democracy in Bangladesh passes a crucial time for various reasons, including for an absence of a true civil society, said speakers at an online discussion on Saturday.
The Centre for Governance Studies organised the discussion on ‘the future of liberal democracy in Bangladesh after Covid pandemic.’
Dhaka University political science professor Shantanu Majumder read out the keynote paper in the discussion.
In his paper, he talked about the issue of self-censorship and the present crisis of liberal democracy in Bangladesh with its historical background.
He also observed that the past two general elections in Bangladesh had failed to obtain appreciation at home and abroad.
Civil society has also failed to play a role that might change the course of the events, he added.
As the opening speaker Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Bangladesh resident representative Felix Kolbitz said that ensuring the rule of majority and protecting the rights of the majority are the key principles in liberal democracy.
Bangladesh University of Professionals Bangabandhu Chair Syed Anwar Hossain said that Bangladesh has democracy which is absolutely dysfunctional.
He also criticised the role of civil society.
He said, ‘In fact we have no civil society in Bangladesh, what we see is only a political society.’
New Age editor Nurul Kabir and economist Nazneen Ahmed focused their discussion on growing inequality among the poor and the rich of the country despite the GDP growth.
Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers’ Association chief executive Syeda Rizwana Hasan criticised the repressive and restrictive laws enacted by the ruling party.
She also suggested the proper utilisation of referendum, which was included as a provision in Bangladesh constitution.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury defended the accusation of the entrance of military personnel in the political process.
He said there are many examples in world history where military leaders contributed more than the political leaders who came through a proper political process.
He said, ‘In liberal democracy, people are supposed to be at the centre of power and electoral democracy is the bedrock of parliamentary democracy but unfortunately both are absent for the last few years under this government.’
On the other hand, the railway minister, Nurul Islam Shujan, chief guest of the discussion, defended the stance of the government under current circumstances and said that the government under the leadership of prime minister Sheikh Hasina had built a self-reliant state through its remarkable achievement in the economic sector.
He also criticised the role of the opposition and said that it should not be forgotten that to establish liberal democracy an accountable opposition is a must and it has many roles to play.
Among others, DU professor Amena Mohsin, former National Board of Revenue chairman Muhammad Abdul Mazid, former state minister of foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury spoke in the programme.
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