Injustice spawns socio-economic problems

Rampant injustice in Bangladesh has led to so many socioeconomic problems in society, eminent economist Professor Rehman Sobhan has said.
"All these (the problems) relate to the symptom of highly unjust societies," he said.
"The injustice has impacted on inequality, environment, education, even the good governance and decentralisation," said Mr Rehman Sobhan, who is also the chairman of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).
He came up with the remarks while addressing the audience after another economist delivered a public lecture on '10 tasks for future Bangladesh' organised by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) at its office in Agargaon area of the capital on Wednesday.
Mr Rehman Sobhan said such injustice influences the people's presentation to governance.
Referring to the business peoples' dominance in the government, he said such trends are likely to impact safeguarding the commoners' interest.
Dr Nazrul Islam, former chief of development research at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, delivered the public lecture on the topic while BIDS Director General Binayak Sen moderated the open discussion followed by the public lecture.
Prime Minister's Economic Affairs Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman, CPD distinguished fellows Mustafizur Rahman and Professor Rounaq Jahan, and BIDS research director Kazi Iqbal spoke on the occasion, among others.
In his lecture, Dr Islam identified economic inequality, achieving good governance and improving democratic atmosphere as three of 10 points he mentioned in the lecture.
According to him, Bangladesh should take time-befitting actions to safeguard the environment, form village councils (Gram Parishad), eradicate regional discrimination and strengthen social solidarity.
Besides, paying special attention to women, children, youths and the elderly, introduction of universal military training and strengthening sovereignty and pursuing a neutral foreign policy are also vital.
Mr Islam said the consequences of previous development activities culminated in some existing challenges like acute level of environment pollution due to industrialisation.
"The country now witnesses serious environmental pollution due to industrial production, as now industries are liable for around 35 per cent of pollution in place of six per cent earlier," he said highlighting on background of his lecture.
The economic inequalities lead to diverse range of other inequalities in the society, he said, adding that capitalism doesn't necessarily lead to the inequalities.
"Unless the inequalities are held back at once, the dominance of a community in politics and policymaking favouring the inequality will rise further, causing more trouble," he said.
Highlighting the necessity of good governance, he said although the government has increased the salaries of its officials, paradoxically the governance has not improved in the country.
Mr Binayak Sen said the country has made considerable improvement in terms of removing non-economic inequalities.
He, however, said still 20 per cent of the population are poor while another 10 per cent are vulnerable who fall below the line during shocks.
He also called for ensuring an equality of opportunities for all people in the country.

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