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Dhaka-A senior minister today called upon opposition lawmakers
to join parliament to make it effective for country's economic
development and people's welfare as a business meet blamed
political divisions for all ills.
"Economic development and welfare of the people will
not take place until the Parliament is made focal point of
all activities," Industries Minister MK Anwar told a
seminar at Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).
He agreed with the speakers that political divisions in the
nation since independence of the country have been the main
impediment to economic development. "Despite whole population,
bar few Rajakars, having participated in the war of liberation,
the nation has been forced to stand divided." Lack of
political commitment, conviction and coordination, failure
of both political leadership and bureaucratic system were
also blamed at the seminar for economic drawbacks of the country.
DCCI and Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE),
an affiliate of the Washington-based US Chamber of Commerce,
jointly organised the seminar on "Political Decision
and Implementation: Effect on Economic Development".
Economists, academics, businessmen and bureaucrats joined
the discussion with DCCI president Benajir Ahmed moderating
and Editor of the Financial Express Moazzem Hossain presenting
the keynote.
The minister also invited opposition lawmakers to participate
in the parliamentary standing committees, effective bodies
to ensure accountability of the members of parliament. He
assured participation of more than proportionate number of
MPs in the committees.
"The politicians and the lawmakers required to have
accountability to the people. So we need an informed and strong
civil society," he said. Anwar said the present trend
in politics would not be able to attract civilized people
in the near future. In this aspect, he said, rights of the
people would remain unprotected unless a strong civil society
emerged.
He, however, expressed concern over the gradual deterioration
of standard of education in the country despite adequate incentives
being provided by governments.
"Meritorious students still coming out from the rural
areas, but the number has gone down," he told the meting,
stressing the need for developing human resources to lead
the country.
Presenting about a 50-point charter of recommendations, the
keynote speaker, Moazzem Hossain, said a liberal democratic
system that can alone guarantee an effective role of the politicians
in running the statecraft can be achieved on the basis of
mutual accommodation and understanding among political parties.
"Otherwise, confrontational politics will continue to
take, as it has been doing, its toll on governance, economy
and, thus, nation's development," he observed.
The speakers came up with the observations on the political
arena as lawmakers of the main opposition and former ruling
party Awami League have stayed away from the new parliament
renewing political conflicts.
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