People\\\'s right to decide on major nat\\\'l issues grabbed by political parties

A galaxy of civil-society leaders Saturday identified the factors such as "absence" of democracy, rampant corruption and weak public institutions as major impediments to real development of Bangladesh.
They also alleged that the people's right to decide on important national issues through referendum was being grabbed by the political parties.
Although there have been democratic movements in Bangladesh for over three or four decades, the country has only gone backward in democratic dispensation. At times, 'electoral democracy' ultimately results in 'electoral autocracy', they said.
The speakers made the observations at the 5th National Convention 2014 of Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SUJON) at the Institute of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh in the city. SUJON secretary Badiul Alam Majumder presented the organisational report while central president M Hafiz Uddin Khan chaired the inaugural session.
Former adviser of caretaker government Akbar Ali Khan said at present a narrowly-focussed democracy is in place where all the characters of democracy have been eroding gradually.
Deviation from democratic norms and erosion in democratic values are being noticed under the current system, he said.
"The country's democratic movement has been going on for the last three-four decades, elections are taking place, governments are changing but democracy has become weak," said Dr Khan.
He said it is not enough to change a person or party to establish democracy as power has been centralized under the present system.
"Parliament has become weak and electoral system so sarcastic that anyone can get maximum seats by getting minimum votes," said the adviser of a non-political interim government.
Referring to the absence of referendum in the country, Dr Khan said if there was such a voting system, there would have been no need for strikes as voters could decide on the important national issues.
"Whether a caretaker government is needed or not could be decided by the voters, not the political parties. It's not any issue of the parties," he said.
But, he lamented, the political parties have "grabbed" this type of people power.
He noted that a section was trying to drive a wedge between democracy and development but no development is possible sans democracy.
"Democracy is part of development and we cannot call it development if only per-capita income increases and the income of some rich people swells," he observed.
Dr Khan suggested forming strong civil-society forum to establish democracy in Bangladesh.
About 900 SUJON representatives from 47 districts of 10 regions across the country participated in the convention. The 4th convention was held in January 2013.
The SUJON central president, Hafiz Uddin Khan, said good governance remains a far cry when there is not even governance.
"There are so many write-ups, dialogues, civil-society statements about this but we could not advance much. We could see a one-day democracy during the election-day, but that too was taken away on the fifth of January this year," he said.
He said the government does not listen to people as there is no referendum recall system in the country.
Referring to the Gazipur deadlock, he said a partisan rule is existing and there is no tolerance of others' views although freedom of expression is prerequisite to democracy.
"I am personally frustrated about the political leaders. That's why root level organisations are required to voice their demands," added Mr Hafiz, also an adviser of a nonparty caretaker government.   
International Chamber of Commerce, Bangladesh (ICC,B) president Mahbubur Rahman said it turns out to be truly difficult to talk about good governance because of the hostility usually shown to any sort of adverse comment on this issue.
"We have reasons to be sceptical about the prospect of establishing good governance in the future if the present democratic practices persist in Bangladesh," said the prominent business leader.    
Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda said the narrow definition of democracy in Bangladesh results in "electoral autocracy".
Here one party does not cooperate with another and makes the parliament dysfunctional by boycotting it, he observed.
"Even the electoral democracy has not been successful here at an expected level. The 2014 election was like scoring goals in an empty field," said the former CEC, who had led the poll body during the post-1/11 regime through the December 29, 2008 general election.
In his strongly worded criticism Mr Huda said in Bangladesh no work can be done without bribe.
"Corruption has expanded to such a pass, even up to the micro level, that people forget to mention the good economic indicators," he said.
"Although economic progress has taken place, quality of service delivery for people's everyday life has declined," he noted.
He said reports on corruption prepared by the Transparency International, Bangladesh should not be criticised as it is based on people's perception. If the report was prepared based on proper research, the report "could have been worse".
Dhaka University Professor Robayet Ferdous said in the new development paradigm, per-capita income is not the only indicator. Today development means the rule of law, freedom of the judiciary, women's empowerment which cannot be quantified but are under development.
Former Dhaka University Vice-chancellor Prof Emaz Uddin Ahmed said the people have been passing through a very bad time. It is meaningless to think about development without democracy.
Citing his experience, former chief election commissioner Abu Hena said the service delivery of the public administration has degraded as deputy commissioners now work at the instructions from the lawmakers although they are supposed to work as per the law.
"Good governance is necessary for the best government, democracy, democratic country and its people," he said.