Allow indoor politics across the country

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The caretaker government should immediately relax emergency rules and allow indoor politics across the country creating scopes for the parties to consult their grassroots leaders to speed up political reforms.

Prescribed or imposed reforms, instead of those made on the basis of consensus within political parties, would not bring desired qualitative changes in democracy in the country.

Political leaders and civil society members expressed these views at a roundtable on “Political Party Reforms for Effective Democracy” in the capital yesterday.

Some of them however said parties should proactively approach the government with their key reform proposals. Talking about rules to check corrupt practices in politics is not pressure for reforms, they noted.

“We want the general elections to be held as per the announced roadmap, but necessary reforms must be made,” Gono Forum leader Dr Kamal Hossain said at the roundtable organised by Shushashoner Jonney Nagorik (Shujan) at the Jatiya Press Club.

“If necessary, we the lawyers can help draft the reforms to speed up the process. The reform proposal of the 14-party could also be incorporated in the reforms,” the eminent jurist said.

Politics of corruption, extortion, black money and loan defaulting must not go on, he emphasised.

Dr Kamal said political parties, especially those who contested elections in honest ways in the past, should be prompt in contributing to the reform process. “There is no time for unnecessary debate. We must have an effective, representational democracy.”

Moderating the roundtable, Shujan Chairman Prof Muzaffer Ahmad said emergency rules should be relaxed as soon as possible for expediting the reform process.

Reforms are badly needed to make sure political parties are accountable and maintain intra-party democracy. “Reforms on such issues are not possible if people cannot talk freely and emergency rules are not relaxed.”

Awami League (AL) Presidium Member Suranjit Sengupta said, “We need to go to district, upazila and union levels for organisational reforms, but we cannot do so now. So, emergency should be relaxed and indoor politics allowed across the country.”

He went on, “Besides, there is also an issue of getting many of the political leaders released from jails through legal procedures.” Reforms are necessary not only for political parties’ operations but also for the civil society, media, teachers and others, he said. “We all are responsible for where we are now.”

AL leader Col (retd) Faruk Khan said the present government is responsible for delay in the reforms process since it is yet to withdraw the ban on indoor politics across the country (except Dhaka). “We have to go to grassroots levels to discuss the reform proposals we have prepared.”

Mofazzal Karim, adviser to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, said politics must be reformed for a qualitative change. “People will reject all those who say reforms are not needed.”

He said politicians should now change their mindset. Imposed reforms will not do, rather intra-party consensus is important for reforms. “Anyone can suggest reforms but none can compel political parties to go for this,” he added.

Mofazzal pointed out that there are many faults in the BNP constitution, which should be changed. Use of black money in politics and sale of nominations for polls should be stopped, he added.

Inam Ahmed Chowdhury, another adviser to the BNP chairperson, said they feel that reforms are necessary to stop use of muscle power and black money and ensure accountability and democracy within political parties. But the number of pro-reform leaders appears to be coming down, he mentioned.

“It does not matter much whether the top leader is in or out of prison, reforms must be done for desired results,” Inam said. It is unfortunate that the leaders opposing reforms now claim to be democrats, he regretted.

In his keynote paper, Shujon Secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumder said the government and the Election Commission are going ahead as regards reforms but political parties are not coming forward ahead proactively. Rather, they are just demanding elections.

Elections are important but some key reforms must be made now for healthy democracy, he said, adding the parties should identify reform issues and suggest action plan and timeframe to accomplish the task.

Badiul said, “Based on those, political parties can make specific demands for withdrawing or relaxing the state of emergency and of holding the elections as per the roadmap.”

Other speakers included former advisers to a caretaker government ASM Shahjahan and M Hafizuddin Khan, political leaders ASM Abdur Rab, GM Quadery and Sadek Siddique, Taleya Rehman of Democracy Watch, film actorr Ilias Kanchan and columnist Syed Abul Maksud.

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