Policy Brief 2003

Policy Brief 2001

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Dear Sir/Madam
I take this privilege to congratulate the CPD for its pioneering effort towards envisioning a new Bangladesh which would be different than what its peoples are currently afforded. There are two core areas in which I would like to offer input:
First relates to PARTICIPATION. I tend to believe that the overseas Bangladeshis have made tremendous contribution in the liberation of Bangladesh as well to the country's continued sustenance. However, they are neither voters (unlike, fo instance, the Italians and many other expatriate communities) nor have any say in running the affairs of the state. Regrettably, even in the CPD's thinking the overseas Bangladeshis remain unrepresented and are not enabled to offer any say. I trust that there is scope for rethinking on this and the CPD can be caucus for wider dialogue that is inclusive of the Bangladeshis abroad. There are reasons to suggest that the Bangladeshis abroad have enough credentials to play a role in this context.
My second input relates to POLICY CONCERNS. Bangladesh is a conflict-prone society and has earned its ill-fame world-wide for the confrontational nature of its politics. I believe, it is time for the Bengalis everywhere to rethink how the society could move forward better in a positive spirit of cooperation and understanding, even while they totally disagree on the essence and issues of politics. What perhaps may be required is an infusion of willingness to share the feelings as well as the needs of self as well as of others. Conflict resolution, social mediation and intervention are now well recognised arts for healing of the divide and wounds which divide the neighbourhoods and afflicts societies everywhere, especially in the Weastern world. I believe that the CPD can play an effective part in its current role perception and policy envisioning if such concerns are kept in right perspective. Please convey my great regards and best wishes to both Prof Rehman Sobhan and Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya for their innovative undertakings.
Sincerely

Abul Kalam (Dr)
 

We Bangladeshi who are living abroad are very much concern about your organizations activities & programms for the future of our frazile nation & also worrying about the destructive motives of the politicals parties pre-election negative pictures.

Hope you all dedicated bodies can turn this negative trend to a right direction.

Best Regards

IMAM HOSSAIN
NORWAY
 

Honorable Members;
I have been looking for an opportunity to congratulate the initiators of this historic and timely initiative. I am confident that history will reward them. The Movement for qualified candidate has already shaken some quarters and I believe it is a huge step forward. I have been following the news related to this initiative from the beginning and think a great numbers of national issues are in discussion and would like to emphasize that separation of Govt. Machineries and State institutions should be pursued more aggressively for a true and long-term benefit. If we look at history of western democracy we see that countries which separated State institutions and Government's machinery are reaping the most benefits of democracy. It has also proven in the history of democracy that if the controller/manipulator of both the machineries are same it might turn into a dangerous and destructive power like elected dictators, Rule of syndicate & Gangs, Rule of Marshall, Rule of family, etc. Some suggestions towards achieving this goal for your inclusions please:

1) Independent & Autonomous body Police and other law enforcing departments.
2) Independence & Autonomous Central Bank, Auditor General Office, National Bureau of Statistics, PSC, etc.
3) Introduction of Proportional election system.

Rafique Ullah
Toronto, Ontario

Dear CPD,

I have come to know about the six areas of  development suggested by the Nagorik committee from the daily prothom alo dated May1st 2006. But I was not sure how to link the idea of electing an honest candidate (which is your primary goal) and those six sectors for development. Electing an honest person in the upcoming election is something very understandable by all the general people, as we all feel the need for such change. If this issue is discussed and brought to the public more and more by seminars and by public speaking, more people will probably be willing to get involved. On the other hand, development need in different areas is immense, If CPD suggests something that it can not do (as in the case of six areas), due to its organisation type, then people will not see it any different from other NGOs and other small political forums. I think the biggest power CPD has right now is the support of the educated mass of Bangladesh on its side.The great achievement would be using this force to change current political trend of monetory power. Any issue CPD decides to take on, it gotta be closer to people's life to get their support, and it should be communicable among the mass people, or else it may loose its momentum.
 

best wishes
Saiful

I came to know from a news report published in the prothom alo that you are going to hold awareness -creating meetings in some district headquaters. i think you should go to the rural people as well. obviously people living in the towns and cities are much more aware of different issues affecting them and the nation as a whole. it is the silent majority ---the rural mass-- who needs to be approached. otherwise all this effort would be fruitless and would amount to little more than armchair policy talk.
thank you

Sumon Kaiser

Some Ideas for CPD:

Before a civil society can be credible it must ensure the participation of majority of our people.  It is very important to hold meetings in places where people of all walks of life would have access, and not have your gatherings in places like Sheraton Hotel.  Venue is very important to inculcate a spirit of non-elitism and populism.  As you probably know that a typical Bangladeshi farmer with his lungi and kurta (Punjabi)  does not even have access to Sheraton Hotel.  Nor does he, with such attire have access to clubs of Dhaka where important members of civil society routinely hob-nob.  CPD is a pro-people populist organization in rhetoric but are the leaders of CPD truely close to peoples lives and aspirations for minimum dignity?  For instance has the chief executive of CPD spent some time in villages, preferably in a typical rural homestead?  How do executives of CPD and other executives of NGOs and thinktanks treat the domestic help ( also known widely in Bangladesh as servants), drivers and such "lower ranking" people. 

At the moment in Bangladesh elistism is a very pernicious problem and even people with populist rhetoric are only elitist down inside.  Inspite of pre-eminence of agriculture in our society village origin is thought to have a lower status compared to urban origin.  In contrast to meritocratic societies such as USA family origin rather than talent is accorded more respect in Bangladesh. Although age and seniority is given respect sometimes,  in order to cash in such respect one has to be a member of at least the middle class.  Peasants, factory workers, garment workers etc are not shown any respect whatsoever by members of the affluent elite class and are cynically exploited through mere egalitarian slogan-mongering.  This behaviour is not specific to any particular party but are common to all.  Democratic practises such as removing a political party from power, fair elections, alone would not change such inequalities.  A protracted campaign sustained over a long time would be needed to make our rich and powerful understand a minimum code of civil behaviour.

Thus all ideas and programs coming from the urban elites of the city will fail unless they are filtered through the enthusiasm and participation of the common people of our country.  Only a drastic and explicit change in mind-set can accomplish that.  The CEO of CPD due to his lofty position as a senior member of the elite class of Bangladesh can play a leading role in this by strongly taking a position against the misbehaviours of members of elite society towards our peasants and financially poorer section of the society.  At the moment the widespread un-civil behaviour towards the majority of the country makes a mockery of the idea of a civil society.

I strong encourage you to take strong measures to display your pro-people intentions by concrete examples and not just well-meaning pronouncements.  We must have a citizens charter for according minimum dignity to all our people irrespective of their financial status or family origin.  Unless such democratization and true emancipation occurs all other concerns of the civil society would have a hollow ring to it.
 

Abed Chaudhury

Dear Sir

It is apparent that we, the general people, are convicted by the corrupted politician for long time. I think at least we have got an umbrella, a group that represent civil society, to come together and show our power of unity.

We will put forward all our effort to fight against corruption and we don't want to lay behind any more.

Thank you and my heartiest congratulations to all of you!

Best regards
Abdul Awal

I think we should ask the pol parties to hold elections in UZ and Zila Parishads simultenously with parliamentary election under CTG. Without local government the current situation of poor governence will not improve and people will continue to suffer.

M. Shamsul Haque

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