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Emergency should be lifted at the earliest

BEI discussion told

Staff Correspondent
The state of emergency should be withdrawn at the earliest, allowing space for political activities, international relations analyst Professor Imtiaz Ahmed said yesterday.
Following the presentation of a report titled "State of Democracy in South Asia" at a discussion organised by Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) in the capital, Prof Ahmed also told journalists that if the emergency is not withdrawn or political activities are not allowed, the people might be impatient and its consequences might be complicated.
Prof Ahmed, a teacher of International Relations at Dhaka University and the coordinator of
the study on the State of Democracy in South Asia, said the caretaker government does not have much time to meet its challenges and therefore it should first relax the rules of state of emergency and then withdraw it.
Commerce and Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman was the chief guest of the programme while noted economist Professor Rehman Sobhan and Dr Rounaq Jahan, professor of Columbia University’, took part at the discussion presided by BEI President Farooq Sobhan.
"Military intervention is not favourable for the progress of democracy," said Prof Ahmed, recommending the formation of structure similar to a public or national security council that would be comprised of civil society members, military officials and non-partisan citizens.
The council would ensure the continuation of democratic process if political parties fail to settle political issues and prevent similar violent situations that preceded 1/11. he added
Though the caretaker government has made some significant changes by separating the judiciary from the executive, appointing some good individuals in the Election Commission, the Public Service Commission and the AntiCorruption Commission, it did not succeed as much in impressing the political parties, Prof Ahmed observed.
Professor Rehman Sobhan said the reasons of malfunctioning of the political parties should be identified and their conduct improved to meet the expectation oftne people.
Bangladesh is going through a transition period, but democracy is the ultimate goal of the people, he said putting the emphasis on serious studies and discourses on democracy and its development in this region, particularly in Bangladesh.
Terming 2008 a cntical year, Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, the commerce and education adviser, said the caretaker government is working persistently to meet the people's desire for the restoration of democracy.
"We want to take the country one step further and witness a qualitative transformation in politics." he (Said adding that the present government has broken the culture of impunity in the country.
A system of check and balance in the executive, legislative and local governments should be ensured for a sustainable democracy. said Adviser Rahman. "We have to exercise a sort of mutual trust so that we can move forward despite our differences... we want to continue a vibrant dialogue process."
Professor Rounaq Jahan said lack of concern about democratic procedures in the South Asian region is a setback for institutionalising democracy and ensuring checks and balances.