40 Years of Independence
Expectations yet to be fulfilled
Speakers tell Prothom Alo roundtable
Speakers are at a roundtable on 40 years of independence: expectations and achievements organised by the Prothom Alo at its office in the city yesterday.Photo: STAR
Speakers have lamented at a roundtable that the expectations for which the country was liberated in 1971 have not been fulfilled in 40 years due to political conflicts, military interventions, and patronisation of militancy and anti-liberation forces in politics. They, however, said Bangladesh has achieved a lot in agricultural production, education, and economy. The daily Prothom Alo yesterday organised the roundtable titled “40 years of independence: Expectations and Achievements" at its office in the city. “Our economic sector has been developed a lot with significant increase in per capita income, which was thought impossible after independence,” said Dr Akbar Ali Khan, former adviser to a caretaker government. He said bad people are driving out good people from politics and that's why the democracy has not been meaningful in the country as yet. Matiur Rahman, editor of the Prothom Alo, said there are achievements in many sectors in 40 years of independence but difference between rich and poor, political conflicts and corruption have increased, and democratic process has been frequently interrupted. Lt Gen (retd) Harun-ur-Rashid, secretary general of Sector Commanders' Forum, said, “With patronisation of militancy and rehabilitation of the defeated forces of 1971 in politics and government, the nation has derailed from the spirit of liberation war.” BNP Vice Chairman Maj (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said politicians neither uphold the spirit of democracy nor believe it. “They (politicians) only love to speak about democracy before the public to gain their supports,” he added. “People are kept hostage by the political parties, and law enforcers are being used as political tools,” he claimed. Sammilita Sangskritik Jote President Nasiruddin Yusuf Bachchu, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad President Ayesha Khanam, former ambassadors KM Shihab Uddin and SS Chakma, Maj Gen (retd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, Bir Bikram and Prof Farida Banu also spoke at the discussion moderated by Abdul Quayum, joint editor of the daily.
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