Bi-cameral system seen as viable option to improve governance

Leading civil society members and intellectuals Saturday pleaded for the introduction of bi-cameral system with proportional representation with a view to maintaining institutional checks and balance on power.

While discussing a number of important national issues including the ongoing political crisis at a workshop in Dhaka, they also called for bringing changes in the political programmes, restoration of discipline in political parties and empowerment of public institutions to ensure good governance.

A private think-tank Policy Research Institute (PRI) and the International Political Science Association (IPSA) jointly organised the workshop on 'Rethinking Democratisation: Consensus Building for Results'.

Political scientist and Wisconsin University professor Dr Zillur R. Khan presented the key- note paper on the subject. He said despite recent dysfunctional politics and violence, the country still has tremendous potential to flourish.

To overcome the crisis, he urged the ruling party to give space to the opposition, crush violent religious extremists and rethink democratisation demand.

He also suggested putting issues of national interest, including hartal, to referendum and introducing the office of Ombudsman.

Eminent economist Rehman Sobhan, who presided over the session, however, said 'hartal' has become almost non-instrumental and lost its legitimacy.

Hartal, once called by Mahatma Gandhi, Rehman Sobhan said, was observed overwhelmingly. Even the government functionaries responded positively. Nowadays, hartal is being observed only because of the fear factor notwithstanding the fact that the business goes as usual these days, he said.

"Those who call hartal become weak and depressed," Dr. Sobhan added.

Dwelling on the issue, former caretaker government adviser Akbar Ali Khan said the situation has come to such a point that it is not possible to have a meaningful dialogue between the two leading parties.

He, however, said introduction of proportional representation in parliament might help initiate the dialogue.

Describing the prevailing political situation, most of the speakers expressed their doubt about the fate of next general election.

According to them, holding of an election is not enough; it has to be perceived as free and fair one, should be participated by all and the relevant government institutions have to be strengthened accordingly.

They also stressed the need for strengthening government institutions like parliament, judicial system, Election Commission, Anti Corruption Commission, administration and bringing accountability and transparency in all institutions.

Presided over by PRI Executive Director Dr Ahsan H. Mansur, the workshop was addressed among others by political scientist Dr Rounaq Jahan. former Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda, BNP Chairperson's adviser Enam Ahmed Chowdhury and Sujan Secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar.

Rehman Sobhan later unveiled the cover of the book 'Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujiber Shommohoni Netritto O Shadhinatar Sangram', the Bengali version of 'The Third World Charisma: Sheikh Mujib and the Struggle for Freedom' written by Dr Zillur Rahman Khan.

In his book, Dr Zillur Rahman depicted the charismatic character of the founder of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman citing various examples from the great leader's life, which he said would inspire the new generation.

Journalist Ajoy Dasgupta and a number of participants at the workshop took part in the discussion citing numerous events surrounding the rise and fall of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as a charismatic leader of the Third World.

    mzrbd@yahoo.com