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President Shahabuddin Ahmad has put accent on good governance to build up a democratic welfare state, saying that the civil society has a very important and effective role to play in this regard.
"The initiative by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has created the opportunity for the civil society and we should make most of it," the President said while opening a three-day session on "Election 2001: National Policy Forum" at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city yesterday.
The session is being jointly organised by the CPD, The Daily Star and the Prothom Alo. Chaired by CPD Chairman Prof. Rehman Sobhan, the opening session was also addressed by Awami League's Chief Election Coordinator SAMS Kibria, BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam and the Prothom Alo Editor Motiur Rahman. CPD Executive Director Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya gave the address of welcome.

Speaking as Chief Guest, Shahabuddin said he is very optimistic that the CPD policy briefs on various sectors would draw public attention and enrich the pre-election debates and discussions.
"I hope the recommendations by the (CPD) Task Forces will help the future elected government to formulate development policies." He added that the recommendations would also make immense contribution in the functioning of the next parliament.
The President appreciated the CPD-Daily Star-Prothom Alo plan for organising extensive discussions on the policy briefs and making them public. "It is imperative to continue the process," he said.
President Shahabuddin observed that the Policy Briefs were important on many counts. Because, he explained, formulation of proper policies and their implementation for rapid economic development largely depend on massive and effective participation by the quarters concerned.
"A democratic atmosphere creates the ground for such participation and such initiative strengthens the democratic process."
The President also appreciated the move to seek opinions and debates on the Task Forces recommendations from political leaders, experts, grassroots people and members of different professional and civil society groups.
He noted that the country was facing multifarious development challenges and stressed that a coordinated effort based upon a consensus has to be taken up to put a proper guideline in place. "This is why, we need an open discussion on issues related to national development."