A few AL poll pledges fulfilled
Say eminent citizens
Chairman of Transparency International Bangladesh Hafizuddin Khan speaks at a discussion titled 'Pledge of charter for change and reality' organised by Shushasoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan) at Jatiya Press Club in the city yesterday.Photo: STAR
Though Awami League (AL) in its election manifesto promised to bring changes, a few initiatives have been taken in this regard under this government, said some eminent citizens at a discussion yesterday. They said the government did well in the agriculture and education sector and also in combating militancy but failed in various others like controlling price hike of essentials, solving electricity, water and gas crisis and improving law and order situation. Shushasoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan) organised the discussion titled ‘Pledge of charter for change and reality’ at Jatiya Press Club in the city. Discussants also observed that pledge for a positive change in the political culture by making parliament effective remains unfulfilled. Columnist Syed Abul Maksud said it would be harsh on the government if all the changes are expected to be brought about in two years but the process could have begun. “Some tasks could have been done in seven days while some within one month but they did not do those,” he said. The government took some bad decisions in these two years like the plan to construct an airport at Arial Beel, Maksud said. Former AL Organising Secretary Mahmudur Rahman Manna said the present government is certainly better than other governments but when we talk about charter for change, it is still far away from the huge task. “Most people inspired by Awami League’s charter for change got frustrated just after formation of the cabinet as they thought the cabinet lacked the calibre and vision needed for the charter’s implementation. “One diplomat a few days ago told me that Awami League made both the government and the party weak,” Manna said. Prof Asif Nazrul of Dhaka University law department said it is not a matter of regret that the government could not bring positive change in many sectors but the dangerous thing is that in some cases negative changes occurred. Political culture was in a dire situation during the BNP government but that culture worsened during present government’s term, he said. But the government was also successful in bringing the country out of its image of being synonymous to militancy and starting the trial of war criminals, he said. Sujan General Secretary Badiul Alam Mazumder presented a keynote paper with Chairman of Transparency International Bangladesh Hafizuddin Khan moderating the discussion. Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President ASM Abdur Rob, AL leader Subash Singha Roy and Prof Dilara Chowdhury of Jahangirnagar University also spoke.
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