Mahmud prefers polls to Hasina-Khaleda talks
Sunday, 16 November 2008
Eminent economist Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud Saturday said holding talks between the two top leaders (Hasina-Khaleda) of two major political parties was irrelevant at this point of time as the general election was slated for December 18, reports UNB.
"Time is so short. So, the most important thing is to hold the election through ensuring participation of all the political parties for transition into democracy," he told journalists at a city hotel.
Prof Mahmud added that the discussion on improving the quality of parliamentary democracy, how parliament would function better, promising that there would be no hartal and the opposition would not boycott parliament would be irrelevant unless a participatory election takes place.
"It's now more important that the political parties clear their positions before the people," he said, adding: "It's the political parties that will have to solve the similar problem (of election) in the future unless it's solved now."
The economist said there was no alternative to election as management of the economic risks as the fallout of the global financial crisis would require public support.
"Time is so short. So, the most important thing is to hold the election through ensuring participation of all the political parties for transition into democracy," he told journalists at a city hotel.
Prof Mahmud added that the discussion on improving the quality of parliamentary democracy, how parliament would function better, promising that there would be no hartal and the opposition would not boycott parliament would be irrelevant unless a participatory election takes place.
"It's now more important that the political parties clear their positions before the people," he said, adding: "It's the political parties that will have to solve the similar problem (of election) in the future unless it's solved now."
The economist said there was no alternative to election as management of the economic risks as the fallout of the global financial crisis would require public support.