Parliament and opposition
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
THE opposition, which continues to stay away from the session of parliament, has raised several how demands for returning to parliament. What is the logic for staying out of parliament where the elected members make legislations and discuss important issues? The opposition party stand leads to questions about its attitude to democracy.
The ruling party has, time and again, invited the opposition to return and initiate healthy discussions on all issues including their demands. The Speaker also has requested them to return but to no avail.
The opposition party has been raising different demands at different times to keep the ruling party under pressure. The ruling party is expected to accept all their legitimate demands. But neither side is bending. This is surely not the way to practise democracy. Compromise is the essence of life as well as democracy. Both the parties should show, therefore, accommodation, tolerance and due respect to each other.
Someone needs to be the first. So, either of the sides can take the initiative to break the stalemate in the interest of democracy.
Why should the ruling party not give one more front row seat to the opposition when it occupies almost all of them? The main concern for the opposition should be to hold the government to account, not just sitting in the front row. The government, on the other hand, should not make it a prestige issue. Instead, it should take the initiative to break the deadlock. The opposition can just as well raise its demands in parliament. The approach would be more helpful in resolving the issues and bridging the gap between the two sides. The opposition makes little impact speaking outside parliament.
We want to see the ruling as well the opposition parties to work with greater achievement of amity to solve problems of poverty and illiteracy. Food security and industrial development need national consensus.
Ahmed Noor
Gulshan, Dhaka
The ruling party has, time and again, invited the opposition to return and initiate healthy discussions on all issues including their demands. The Speaker also has requested them to return but to no avail.
The opposition party has been raising different demands at different times to keep the ruling party under pressure. The ruling party is expected to accept all their legitimate demands. But neither side is bending. This is surely not the way to practise democracy. Compromise is the essence of life as well as democracy. Both the parties should show, therefore, accommodation, tolerance and due respect to each other.
Someone needs to be the first. So, either of the sides can take the initiative to break the stalemate in the interest of democracy.
Why should the ruling party not give one more front row seat to the opposition when it occupies almost all of them? The main concern for the opposition should be to hold the government to account, not just sitting in the front row. The government, on the other hand, should not make it a prestige issue. Instead, it should take the initiative to break the deadlock. The opposition can just as well raise its demands in parliament. The approach would be more helpful in resolving the issues and bridging the gap between the two sides. The opposition makes little impact speaking outside parliament.
We want to see the ruling as well the opposition parties to work with greater achievement of amity to solve problems of poverty and illiteracy. Food security and industrial development need national consensus.
Ahmed Noor
Gulshan, Dhaka