Speakers at a citizens’ dialogue on Monday were of the opinion that the members of civil society can get the country’s politics on the right track by applying their influence on the people.

They said civil society has a great role to play to make the next general elections, to be held in January, 2007, a credible one by forcing the mainstream political parties not to nominate black money holders, smugglers, loan defaulters and militants as their candidates.

Some of the speakers said too much political affiliation of intellectuals and professional bodies are weakening the influence of civil society day by day.

The dialogue titled “National Election 2007: Initiative of Civil Society in the Accountable Development Effort”, jointly organised by Centre for Policy Dialogue, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, was held at a local hotel.

CPD chairman Prof Rehman Sobhan chaired the dialogue while former chief adviser of caretaker government Justice Habibur Rahman attended it as chief guest.

The dialogue was participated, among others, by Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Gano Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain, Awami League leaders Suranjit Sengupta, MP, and Motia Chowdhury, BNP lawmaker Mushfiqur Rahman, Grameen Bank Managing Director Dr Muhammad Yunus, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president ASM Abdur Rob, Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam and Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman.

A 24-member citizens group comprising eminent persons of the country was announced in the dialogue that will prepare a Vision Report for Bangladesh for next 15 years (up to 2020). Professor Rehman is the convenor of the committee while CPD executive director Dr Debapriya Bhattachariya will act as member secretary.

Justice Habibur Rahman said there is a similarity between two leading parties BNP and Awami League in case of making good pledges to people. He said both parties in their respective election manifestos in 2001 pledged to set up Human Rights Commission and to appoint Ombudsman, but they did not keep their promises.

He wanted to know as to who will bring those to account who have made Parliament ineffective for the last one and half decades by confining their activities to walk-out only?

He said before every election reforms in different systems are raised. This government itself has brought reforms by increasing age-limit to some constitutional posts and by increasing the number of election commissioners.

It has given rise to apprehension on one hand, similarly, demand for counter-reforms are being raised. “We hope the dispute will be resolved very soon and people will be able to cast their votes”.

The former chief justice called upon the civil society to play a bigger role ahead of the next general elections.

Barrister Moudud Ahmed said our political parties lack tolerance for which it is not possible on their part to reach consensus on many crucial national issues. He said our practice of parliamentary democracy has started 15 years back which is not a long time at all. “In many developed countries democracy took more time to mature”, he added.
 

He said as a nation we are very fortunate as we have a very active civil society and vibrant media which will work as watchdog to cement the base of democracy in the country.

Dr Kamal Hossain said there is nothing more powerful than the power of people. Civil society has to organise people to bring about a qualitative change in country’s political arena.
 

Dr Muhammad Yunus placed a set of proposal under “Eligible Candidate Movement” for finding out eligible candidate in the next general election. He said think tanks like CPD can take such initiative to find out honest, energetic and patriotic candidates across the country.
 

He said Anti-Corruption Commission can formulate a guideline for Election Commission to prevent smugglers, black-money holders and criminals from being candidate or being nominated by any party.