There is a culture of fear prevalent in the country, which is created by the political parties, and the ruling power especially plays a pivotal role in creating fear in order to continue their rule, speakers told a seminar on Saturday.
Academics, lawyers, civil society members and senior journalists who spoke at a seminar called upon all the country’s political parties to come forward and correct themselves to take the nation ahead.
The Hunger Project organised the seminar on ‘Role of Political Parties in creating a culture of fear in Bangladesh,’ at the National Press Club Hunger Project country director Badiul Alam Majumder who presided over the seminar said that the political parties were playing an important role in creating fear and violence as the musclemen with a lot of money were being selected for contesting elections by the political parties.
‘Culture of fear can be created through government initiative,’ he said.
Noted lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua said culture of fear has become an important tool in politics in the country at present as proven during the last mayoral elections.
‘The ruling powers are responsible for carrying out terrorism,’ he said, adding, ‘people were doing politics to survive in powers.’
Senior journalist Sohrab Hasan said the culture of fear was also being created through a lack of rule of law in the country.
He said democracy cannot be strengthened by shutting the mouths of others.
He stressed the need for creating awareness among people to fight against lies and fear.
Dhaka University professor of political science Ainal Islam said the people who could demonstrate more ability to create fear were being accepted by the parties.
‘Fear is being produced by the political parties due to their weakness in terms of ideology,’ he said.
‘Taking about politics of fear is also a fear in itself,’ he added.
Shujan general secretary at Lalbagh Thana Md Selim said although there were honest men in society they could not play their due role in political activities due to fear.
‘Those who have power and musclemen are controlling everything,’ he said.
Gulshan thana unit Shujan president Lyla Sajid said it was necessary to wake people up to stand united to resist the culture of fear.
Sumana Sarker of Hunger Project presented a keynote paper at the seminar.
Academics, lawyers, civil society members and senior journalists who spoke at a seminar called upon all the country’s political parties to come forward and correct themselves to take the nation ahead.
The Hunger Project organised the seminar on ‘Role of Political Parties in creating a culture of fear in Bangladesh,’ at the National Press Club Hunger Project country director Badiul Alam Majumder who presided over the seminar said that the political parties were playing an important role in creating fear and violence as the musclemen with a lot of money were being selected for contesting elections by the political parties.
‘Culture of fear can be created through government initiative,’ he said.
Noted lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua said culture of fear has become an important tool in politics in the country at present as proven during the last mayoral elections.
‘The ruling powers are responsible for carrying out terrorism,’ he said, adding, ‘people were doing politics to survive in powers.’
Senior journalist Sohrab Hasan said the culture of fear was also being created through a lack of rule of law in the country.
He said democracy cannot be strengthened by shutting the mouths of others.
He stressed the need for creating awareness among people to fight against lies and fear.
Dhaka University professor of political science Ainal Islam said the people who could demonstrate more ability to create fear were being accepted by the parties.
‘Fear is being produced by the political parties due to their weakness in terms of ideology,’ he said.
‘Taking about politics of fear is also a fear in itself,’ he added.
Shujan general secretary at Lalbagh Thana Md Selim said although there were honest men in society they could not play their due role in political activities due to fear.
‘Those who have power and musclemen are controlling everything,’ he said.
Gulshan thana unit Shujan president Lyla Sajid said it was necessary to wake people up to stand united to resist the culture of fear.
Sumana Sarker of Hunger Project presented a keynote paper at the seminar.
Source: New Age
