CPD-Prothom Alo-The Daily Star dialogue in Barisal

Democracy needs anti-graft body, separate judiciary
CPD, The Daily Star and Prothom Alo
consultation meet in Barisal told

Staff Correspondent
25 May 2003

Immediate separation of the judiciary, an end to appointment of judges on political consideration and formation of an independent anti-corruption commission are imperative to restore people's confidence in the democratic order.

Moreover, political parties and their leaders should be answerable to the people, and the leaders and bureaucrats have to give estimates of their wealth. The press should be free from political influence.

Speakers at a dialogue on 'Good Governance: Corruption and Judicial Separation' here yesterday made the observations. The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), The Daily Star and the Prothom Alo organised the dialogue, held at the BDS Hall.

President of the local Bar Library Manobendra Batabyal chaired the session. CPD Executive Director Debapriya Bhattacharya gave the welcome address while Mayor of Barisal City Corporation Majibur Rahman Sarwar was chief guest. Three lawmakers from Barisal, high officials, social workers, cultural activists and NGO workers spoke on the occasion.

Editor of the Prothom Alo Motiur Rahman was present. Former director of the Bureau of Anti-corruption Md Badiuzzaman presented the keynote paper at the dialogue. Mayor Majibur Rahman Sarwar said every sector needs cleansing to ensure good governance and eradication of corruption.

Lawmaker Abul Hossain said corruption should first be removed from the Bureau of Anti- corruption itself to free the society from this vice. Legislator Zahiruddin Sawpan said if salaries of bureaucrats is raised to an 'acceptable level', it might help check corruption.

Joint Secretary of district Awami League Monirul Ahsan said while in power, politicians say one thing and then say just the opposite when out of power. They must give up this habit, he added. President of Sangskritik Sangstha Samonnaya Parishad Syed Dulal said investment of illegal money should be stopped to curb illegal influence in different fields.

The others who spoke included former adviser of the caretaker government Hafizuddin Ahmed, Prof. Kaniz Fatema of North South University, Chairman of Barisal education board Anowarul Huq, Borhanuddin Ahmed of Manobik Unnayan Sangstha, former secretary Al-Amin, BNP leader A Rashid Khan, Rani Bhattacharya of Mahila Parishad, Communist Party of Bangladesh leader Majibur Rahman Talukdar, Hafiz Ahmed of Association of Development Agencies of Bangladesh, freedom fighter Nurul Alam Farid, social worker Habibur Rahman Khan and Awami LeagueL leader Talukder Yunus.