Inclusive democracy key to inclusive growth: Rehman Sobhan

Chairman of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) professor Rehman Sobhan has observed that inclusive democracy is needed to achieve inclusive growth.

“If you want inclusive growth, you’ve to have inclusive democracy in your process,” he said while addressing a seminar titled “Pursuing Inclusive Growth: Priorities for the New Government” at a city hotel on Sunday.

Rehman Sobhan also said the issue of quality education is not discussed in parliament as children of about 90 per cent MPs are studying in English medium schools, calling for conducting a study on the education situation. “There’re chances that 90 per cent of MPs’ children study in English medium schools.”

The seminar was addressed, among others, by planning minister Abdul Mannan, deputy minister for education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, former finance minister M Syeduzzaman, Gonoshasthya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury, eminent physician Rashid-E-Mahbub, eminent environmentalist A Atiq Rahman and educationist Rasheda K Chowdhury.

CPD executive director Fahmida Khatun made the keynote presentation on the topic while its distinguished fellow professor Mustafizur Rahman moderated the seminar.

Presiding over the seminar, Rehman Sobhan said that the country’s education system has a serious structural problem. “But I never witnessed any debate in parliament in the last 10 years on the issue of quality education.”

He said although the prime minister has announced a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy against corruption, the costs of different projects are overrunning. “But those are not being investigated.”

Terming poverty as the country’s main problem, planning minister Abdul Mannan said the government is fighting hard to eradicate it.

He questioned what the government can do if people want their children to study in English medium schools with money that comes from their family members working in the Middle East or the UK.

Deputy minister for education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury admitted that there are some bad communal contents in school textbooks and blamed it on the influence of a reactionary group that had been in the administration.

He said Awami League has prepared its election manifesto in light of the country’s present reality.

Former finance minister M Syeduzzaman said Bangladesh badly needs private investment for enhancing growth. “But unfortunately, Bangladesh’s position is even lower than Myanmar in this regard,” he observed.

Zafrullah Chowdhury alleged that the attorney general office is creating obstacles to obtaining bail by those accused in ‘fictitious’ cases. “This is a big barrier to good governance.”

He also underscored the need for delegating power to the local level administration.

Rashid-e-Mahbub said he feels bad to see that the country’s medical care system is in its ‘worst’ situation. “The poor are getting poorer and it has been biggest challenge to ensure rationality in providing medical care services.”

Rasheda K Chowdhury said the young community is skeptical about whether they will get job on completion of their education.

She said communal contents are still in school textbooks although those have already been identified.

Appreciating the High Court verdict banning coaching business by teachers, the educationist said children will now get time to go to playgrounds.

She also said if repression on women stops and corruption is uprooted, this will increase 2 per cent GDP.