No democracy in political parties
BBC Bangladesh Sanglap told
Two panellists yesterday told BBC Bangladesh Sanglap that lack of democracy in the political parties is the main barrier to the development of democracy in the county while the two other panel members, who were politicians, sought more time for its development.
According to Maj Gen (retd) ANM Muniruzzaman, president of Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, and filmmaker Sara Afreen, democracy has not been established in any of the country's political parties.
Maniruzzaman said, “How we can expect democracy from the political parties who don't practice democracy inside them. Democracy won't be strengthened in the country unless the political parties establish democracy inside them.â€
Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu said the country was marching towards democracy and that democracy was thriving amid many problems. Senior BNP leader Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah viewed that the scenario would change within 20-25 years.
During the dialogue in the capital's BIAM auditorium, an audience member put a question to the four-member panel about the ruling Awami League's December 29 national council. She asked, "Should democratic practices inside political parties be like this?"
The AL council has empowered re-elected AL President Sheikh Hasina to choose other members to its central committee and bring changes, if necessary, in the AL constitution and declaration, which violates party charter and the Representation of People Order.
A female participant asked the panel, “Why Bangladeshi women are repressed despite our prime minister and the opposition leader being women?†Sara Afreen replied that such incidents occurred due to lack of good governance and law enforcement.
In another response, all four panellists criticised the recent killing of some unarmed Bangladeshis by India's Border Security Force (BSF) and sought government action.
Hannan Shah said if voted to power, the BNP would try to stop border killings through diplomacy with India. If it still continues, they will not remain "subservient" as the present government, he added.
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