CPD-Prothom Alo-The Daily Star dialogue in Sylhet

Govt snubbed for not keeping polls pledges
Speakers at the National Policy Review Forum 2003

Staff Correspondent, from Sylhet
11 May, 2003

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Civic activism, including that by the opposition political parties, is needed to compel the government to implement administrative reforms.

Some reform policies have already been adopted though not implemented and so, a consensus among the political parties and the citizens is a must to ensure the implementation. The observations were made at the first session of the daylong regional consultation of the National Policy Review Forum -- 2003 held at Sylhet yesterday. Organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), The Daily Star and the Prothom Alo, the session was on "Administrative Reforms".

Speakers said administrative reforms need political consensus since the government of the day tends to rule out the policies of the previous one.
The dialogue criticised the government for not implementing its election pledges, thus making a mockery of the voters' aspirations. Political leaders make numerous promises to their voters before elections but forget them once elected, the discussants pointed out. They said this cannot be allowed anymore and stressed the need for a common platform of all citizens to continuously press the government into implementing its pledges.

Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, executive director of the CPD, moderated the discussion chaired by Treasurer of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Mohammad Abdul Aziz. Editor of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam made the welcome address while Abdul Qaiyum, joint editor of Prothom Alo, was also present. Acting Vice-chancellor of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Prof. Mosle Uddin Tareque in his speech as chief guest said, "We are talking about administrative reforms for the last 32 years with no progress."

Many participants were highly critical of the government for not separating the judiciary from the administration. They said the government is deliberately delaying the process on various pretexts in violation of the timeframe set by the Supreme Court. Giving a grim picture of law and order, former president of the Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry Safwar Chowdhury said the situation has been hampering development.

He said corruption has engulfed the society. "We need to stamp it out," he said, demanding an independent anti-corruption commission. Prof. Syed Akmal Mahmud of Sylhet International University said a mass movement is needed to fight corruption. "Although most of us have become corrupted, there are still some honest people and the situation can be improved through movement."

Brig. Gen. Jubayer Siddiqui (rtd) said the proposed citizen's committee should be formed by non-political persons. "Unless we can do it involving the local administration, police and the people, the law and order will not improve."

Cultural activist Hasanuzzaman Chowdhury criticised the successive governments for cancelling decisions or projects taken by their predecessors. Prof. Gourango Deb Roy of the SUST said lawmakers stay in Dhaka, totally detached from their constituency.

"They should keep close contacts with the voters and raise their demands in parliament," he said. Among others, businessman Mohibur Rahman, lawyer EU Shahidul Islam, Prof. Joinal Abedin, Prof. Akhterul Islam, teachers Abu Hena Chowdhury and Jayeda Sharmin Shathi spoke.

The participants also felt that human rights and an independent anti-corruption bureau will have no value unless the Special Powers Act is scrapped.The draft taskforce report presented at the consultation meeting said the present government has failed to implement most of its election pledges. The 100-day programme of the government also failed to achieve the desired level.

It also said the government has drawn up some reform policies, but no initiative can be seen to implement them."In this regard, the report observed that the opposition parties could put pressure on the government, but we did not see anything like that," it added.