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‘People paying for political conflicts’

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Two discussants at BBC Bangladesh Sanglap here on Saturday underscored the need for holding dialogue between the country’s two main political parties on election-time government while two other political figures stuck to their party as well as alliance stance in this regard.

The issue came to fore as one audience asked the panelists whether the government is interested to initiate dialogue on polls-time government.

The programme on contemporary issues was recorded at the city’s BIAM auditorium in the evening. BBC journalist Akbar Hossain moderated the programme.

Taking part in the dialogue, executive president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), a component of the Awami League-led grand alliance, Mainuddin Khan Badal said the Supreme Court declared the caretaker government system illegal and added that the system might have been continued for two more terms had the Jatiya Sangsad wanted it. “But the Jatiya Sangsad has scraped the provision of the caretaker government system from the constitution.”

About the participation of the main opposition BNP in the next polls, Badal said, “From the experience of 45 years in the politics I can say the party which would join the next election first is BNP.”

In the present context, BNP vice-chairman Shamsher Mubin Chowdhury said, free, fair and acceptable polls are not possible under any party government.

On TIB’s proposal on election-time government, he said there are many positive things in the proposal. “So, it’s considerable.”

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said TIB’s placed the proposal from the perspectives of constitutional duties. “The people of the country are paying for the conflicting relations between the two main political parties. If the situation continues, the country will run into trouble.”

He went on: “There’s no alternative to discussion as in democratic system discussion is the best way to resolve problems.”

When the moderator asked whether TIB is interested to play the ole as a mediator, Iftekhar replied, “It depends on the stakeholders. If such scope is created, we would consider it as per our capacity.”

Taking part in the discussion, businesswoman Rubana Huq stressed holding dialogue and said, “As a citizen of the country we want to lead a normal life and leave behind a safe future for the next generation. To create such a path, we have to do everything, including holding dialogue.”

Source: UNBConnect

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