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People’s participation in admin a must to establish rule of law

Speakers tell discussion

Staff Correspondent
Speakers at a discussion yesterday stressed that the restoration of direct democracy and people's participation in the administration and the judiciary are imperatives to establish justice and rule of law in the society.
“We require restoration of direct democracy through local republics as articles 59 and 60 of the Constitution of Bangladesh formulate. Through the medium of these local republics tlje entire body, of citizens will actively participate in ■ thba'dministfatldiibFff^dSthte.Then the society will obliterate the state. There will be no opportunity or necessity for corrupt practice,” said Justice Mohammad Golam Rabbani while speaking as chief guest at the discussion.
The discussion titled 'Judicial accountability in Bangladesh: Is Ombudsman an option?' was organised by the Society of Justice at Brae Centre Inn at Mohakhali in the city.
Justice Rabbani said in Bangladesh the parliamentary democracy has reached the dead end and it is nowparty-cracy.
"Political practice under the party system discards morality and generates lust for power, sectional selfishness, class-hatred and so on. The state under the control of the eyil passions has obliterated the society and unless this is changed totally, the corruption will prevail," he added.
Justice Rabbani said a judge is no doubt a human being and so he is falliableaswashis ancestor Adam.
“If so, then who will guarantee that the chosen Ombudsman would be infalfiable? Further, we have the courts of first instance, then the series of appellate courts or revi-sional courts and at the apex Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. So one should not be allowed to meet the Ombudsman before all forums are exhausted," he said.
"If he is allowed then there will be two issues out of one judgement Number one, the judge is corrupt and number two, the judgement is wrong and to allow simultaneous proceedings, one before the Ombudsman and the other before the appellate court will be disastrous. Each and every successful litigant will rush to the office of the Ombudsman and there will be innumerable cases adding with the same innumerable cases in the courts,” he added.
Barrister M Amir-Ul Islam, former vice-chairman of Bangladesh Bar Council, said Ombudsman should not be the only option, social awareness should be built up in order to establish the judicial accountability.
Nurul Kabir, editor of the New Age, said there should be an external body in respect of the recruitment of judges for the interest of transpar-
ency of judicial system.
Prof Dr Sarker Ali Akkas of Daffodil International University said in order to strengthen the confidence of people, public participation should be ensured in the affairs of the judiciary.
"Discipline of judges is one of the important aspects in which such participation is necessary. An independent office of Ombudsman may play an effective role in establishing such an accessible system. Therefore, immediate measures should be taken io establish the system of Ombudsman for - the judiciary so that public confidence in the judiciary, particularly in the system of judicial accountability can be sustained properly," he added.
Barrister Charles Whiteley, first secretary of European Commission to Bangladesh, and Taleya Rehman, a development activist, also took part in the discussion moderated by Prof Dr Mizanur Rahman, president of the Society of Justice.