One tends to agree with Commerce Minister Tofael Ahmed on the issue of the civil society initiative to defuse the current political crisis. He has turned down the proposal of the civil society to hold a national dialogue with a view to reaching national consensus to resolve the on-going political crisis. He termed the proposal unrealistic and unacceptable.
On behalf of the civil society, the immediate past Chief Election Commissioner Dr. A T M Shamsul Huda sent three letters to the President, Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson calling for dialogue. Tofael Ahmed pointed out that Shamsul Huda, as Chief Election Commissioner, wanted to break up the BNP and create a rival BNP.
The civil society's proposal emanated from a round table held on February 07, 2015. Apart from Shamsul Huda, former advisers to caretaker governments Dr. Akbar Ali Khan, M Hafizuddin Khan and Shafi Shami, former Governor of Bangladesh Bank Salehuddin Ahme and lawyer Dr Shadin Malik, among others, participated in the round table. Among political leaders, Gano Forum president Dr Kamal Hossain, CPB president Mujahidul Islam Selim, BSD general secretary Khalequzzaman, Bikalpa Dhara general secretary Major( retd) Mannan and JSD president ASM Rab were present. One proponent of the proposal wrote to defend their step that though the political leaders were present, the round table was under the influence of the distinguished citizens of the civil society. He suggested not to look at their past performances but consider the present proposal. But the AL leadership is not wrong to point out that their roles were controversial.
Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA) held a press conference and issued a written statement on January 29, 2015. This was apparently overlooked by the civil society leaders while initiating their proposal. DUTA pointed out the on-going blockade-hartal programme was against humanity. It recalled that during the 1969 mass upsurge academic calendar remained unhampered countrywide because patriotism was held in high esteem by the political leadership.
What is the need of the hour is to bring peace, safety and security to the common people and creating an enabling business environment.
The writer is an economist, advocate and columnist.
mqislambd@hotmail.com
Concerning civil society initiative
Muhammad Quamrul Islam | Published: February 17, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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