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Chittagong Dialogue

Support to local govt polls before general election

STAFF CORRESPONDENT, Ctg
A cross section of people who attended a lively dialogue here yesterday afternoon, spoke on a number of issues ranging from upcoming local government and national elections to some local problems of the port city.
While expressing their views openly at the auditorium of Engineers Institute, they also thanked Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, who was present there as chief guest, and his government for giving them an opportunity to speak out at such a platform.
Out of 300 invitees, a total of 42 people representing civil society, business community, lawyers, women leaders and media took part in the dialogue.
All of them spoke in favour of holding local government polls ahead of general election and urged the chief adviser to take necessary steps la ensure sustainable deruot . *’ racy in the country.
Some of them also expressed concern about the post-general election situation that may occur in December or January after the caretaker government ends its term.
Three to four participants including Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) President Saifuzzaman Chowdhury demanded a national consensus government.
He said it must be decided how the political parties will behave when the next elected government comes to power.
"We don't want to see again the violence and anarchy in the name of politics like the 1/11,' the chamber president said, adding that a national government is needed to see a sustainable democracy.
Saifuzzaman said gas and electricity crises are seriously affecting
the economic growth of the country.
"Expected industrialisation or investment will not take place unless we get rid of the crises soon." he observed.
A senior citizen and businessman Taher Sobhan urged the government to take massive corrective measures in the bureaucracy.
“An efficient and honest bureaucracy is urgently needed to hold a free, fair and credible election," he said.
Editor of daily Purbokone Taslimuddin Chowdhury urged the government to resolve different problems of Chinagong to make it a commercial capital in true sense.
Vice-chairman of Muktijoddah Sangsad Abul Hashem alleged that the intelligence agencies have reportedly prepared lists of people of their choices to contest the upazila elections.
Hashem wanted to know whether this is true or not.
. .W Jus. rrpliL the.chief adviser clearly stated that he had no knowledge about the existence of such list.
Dr Bikiron Prasad Barua, chairman of physics department at Chittagong University, termed the decision to hold local government polls ahead of parliamentary election a timely and appropriate decision'.
He stressed the need for nuclear power plants to overcome the presentpowercrisis.
He also appealed to the chief adviser to release detained Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury on humanitarian ground.
Former CCCI president Ali Ahmad urged the government to give constitutional recognition to Chittagong as commercial capital of the country.
General Secretary of Shop Owners Association Kamal Uddin said although the government did exceptionally good jobs in first six months after 1/11, it failed to keep up the momentum later and lost control over the situation.
Syed Sagir Ahmad, general secretary of Khatunganj Trade and Industries, said it would be a blunder to give major political parties that ruled the country in last 37 years, another chance and favoured a national consensus government.
Ward Commissioner Rehana Kabir Ranu said local government will never be meaningful and strong enough unless women are included in good numbers.
“We want frill democracy,' not * h#l[ Qr.roij14nj.ic democracy," she said demanding massive reforms in political parties.
Editor of daily Azadi MA Malek underscored the need for proper guidelines of the government regarding an effective parliament free from boycott culture.
Mubibul Hoque, former general secretary of Chittagong District Bar Association, urged the government to be more cautious while releasing accused detainees on legal and humanitarian grounds.
Chittagong Press Club President Ali Abbas underscored the need for registration and reforms of political parties before the general election.