President-PM balance of power needed

A group of prominent citizens said checks and balances of power and authority between the President and the Prime Minister are needed to get rid of the country of its recurring political crisis, reports UNB.
Leaders of the newly-formed platform 'Udbhigno Nagarik Samaj (Concerned Citizens)' placed a set of proposals for constitutional reforms and institutional restructuring to solve the stalemate at a press conference at the National Press Club in the city on Sunday.
Convener of the platform and former chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda read out a written statement.
"Unfortunately, our leaders, consciously or unconsciously, have failed to recognise that democracy can only flourish through the paralleled development of strong and accountable institutions, committed opposition to the ruling party and willingness to compromise and reconcile on the past and present issues;" Huda said
"Instead, they consider democracy as an instrument of aggrandisement of their political power and strong neutral institution as impediments to that design," he added.
As a result of it, he said wining elections by any means has become a life and death question for the political parties.
Referring to the opposition's long movement following the annulment of the caretaker government system, Huda said the economy has already suffered huge losses and a fear is there that a mid to long-term impact of the current political instability will be extremely damaging. "More importantly, the citizens are also without any avenue to express their concern and opinions freely and without fear. In short, citizens are voiceless."
"We feel compelled to put before the country a roadmap seeking political consensus to enable a long-term solution to the country's perennial political problems," the platform convener said.