Politicians and civil society leaders on Monday accused each other of letting people down before agreeing that they should make coordinated efforts to uphold the political and economic interest of the people.

‘A combined breakthrough in politics as well as in economy has become uncertain, as we have failed to make a political decision to improve the [existing] chaotic and futile political culture,’ said Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman, a former chief advisor to the caretaker government, when addressing a dialogue on the upcoming general elections.

The Centre for Policy Dialogue, Prothom Alo and the Daily Star organised the dialogue on ‘National Elections 2007 – Civil Society Initiative for Accountable Development Effort’ in the capital city.

Habibur Rahman, who was chief guest at the dialogue, blamed both the BNP and the Awami League for not implementing some of their key election pledges, including the separation of the judiciary, elimination of corruption and strengthening of local governments.

‘Who will make them accountable for making the parliament ineffective and limiting their parliamentary duties to walkouts over the last one and a half decade?’ he asked.

The former chief justice of the Supreme Court said anthropologists would find Bangladesh an attractive subject of research on how nepotism and quasi-monarchic system spread in society.

He called for an end to political bickering and urged members of civil society, ‘an intangible entity’ in his consideration, play a role in overcoming the situation.

Habibur Rahman was critical of the ‘so-called encounter and crossfire’ and said such killings ‘give godfathers [patrons] of criminals a sense of relief’.

He took a veiled swipe at the decision to increase the service age for chief justice of the Supreme Court, saying it had made the electoral process questionable.

The law, justice and parliamentary affairs minister, Moudud Ahmed, recalled the ‘glorious role’ of the politicians.
‘The country would not have won independence, if the politicians had not played their due role,’ he said.

Moudud affirmed his support for the two-party system and said the prevailing BNP-AL standoff was temporary.
‘We should not do any such thing that may hinder the democratic system,’ he said. ‘It will be better if we can improve the political culture by accepting the result of the elections and strengthening the parliament by joining its sessions.’

Matia Chowdhury, a presidium member of the Awami League, said the restoration of democracy in 1991 and increased participation of women in local governments was possible because of appropriate political decisions.
‘We should be aware as not to pave the way for extra-political forces by incessantly criticising politicians,’ she warned. ‘Criminals, black money holders and conspirators will be successful, if politicians fail.’

The Gana Forum president, Dr Kamal Hossain, said the constitution would remain a piece of paper unless a healthy political culture was created.

Suranjit Sengupta of the Awami League criticised members of civil society for maintaining silence when the country faced crisis.

‘It is not wise to expect that only politicians will strengthen democracy and wake up from slumber six months before the elections,’ he said. ‘Go to the grassroots and make the people aware.’

The CPD executive director, Debapriya Bhattacharya, criticised the political parties for defying the laws of the land. ‘None of the political parties submitted report on electoral expenditures after the 2001 election. How can these parties, which failed to ensure accountability to maintain their party accounts, ensure accountability of the state exchequer?’

The Grameen Bank managing director, Muhammad Yunus, suggested the launching of a ‘movement for suitable candidates’ before the elections. ‘The political situation will be more chaotic and violent, if corrupt and inept aspirants are elected to the parliament.’

Iqbal Mahmud, a former vice-chancellor of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, questioned, ‘Can we be assured that the parties, who will lose in the upcoming election, will accept the result?’

Bishwa Sahitya Kendra president Abdullah Abu Sayeed said the country needed a vigilant civil society to keep the government active.

The Daily Star editor, Mahfuz Anam, criticised both the ruling and opposition parties. ‘After winning elections, the politicians think that they have got a lease of the country and will do whatever they wish.’

He also criticised members of civil society, who, in his words, were ‘extra-cautious’. ‘Why don’t you protest against anomalies? It is a continuous struggle.’

The Prothom Alo editor, Matiur Rahman, said neither the Awami League nor the BNP could accept a free and impartial press.

He also criticised the government for increasing taxes on newsprint import. ‘It was done to hinder expansion of the newspaper industry. Publishing news against irregularities, corruption, and partisan activates and loan defaulters will be hindered if expansion of the press is blocked.’

The editors demanded to enact a law to ensure free flow of information.

Rehman Sobhan suggested that a foolproof system should be created to ensure ‘integrity of the forthcoming elections’ for a ‘more just, more inclusive’ society.

Former finance minister M Saiduzzaman, BNP lawmaker Mushfuqur Rahman, former MCCI president Laila Rahman Kabir, Professor Jamal Nazrul Islamof Chittagong University, Professor Mohammad Zafar Iqbal of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology and Transparency International Bangladesh executive director Iftekharuzzaman also spoke.