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Lack of true democracy leads to instability

PM speaks at int'l seminar on People's Empowerment and Development

BSS, Dhaka
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday attributed the mass upsurges in different parts of the world to lack of participatory democracy and justice.
She observed that without true democracy, social stability and peace cannot be durable.
The premier was addressing the inaugural ceremony of an interna-tional seminar on People's Empowerment and Development at
Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in the capital.
"Absence of democracy and social justice can be linked to sustenance of poverty, inequality, deprivation and marginalisation, which in turn instigates extremism and terrorism," Hasina told the audience.
The premier said she firmly believes that justice is an important requisite for sustainable peace, and it is possible to attain through empowering people for meaningful engage-
ment in development activities at all levels of the society.
Hasina thanked the delegates for taking heartily her concept presented in the 66th UN General Assembly (UNGA) session on People's Empowerment for Peace, Justice and Development, and said their input would make the concept a classic, universal and workable one. The premier said she witnessed very closely her father's struggle for liberty, democracy and socioeconomic progress of people.
So fibre of these values remained implanted deeply in her heart, Hasina added.
Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes gave the welcome address in yesterday's inaugural session participating by delegates from UN member countries, representatives of UN agencies and diplomatic missions of different countries in Dhaka and New Delhi.
Referring to global campaign for a "society for all" launched in Rio in 1992, Hasina said the goal remained elusive in last 20 years despite our renewed pledges in Copenhagen in 1995, in New York 2000 and again in Rio this year.
She said, "Freedoms, human rights and global
peace remained elusive while all forms of extremism are thriving.
"New and emerging challenges such as oil and food price hike, global financial and debt crisis, climate change, lack of green and clean technology and the digital divide kept the marginalise poor societies isolated from global mainstream."
Hasina said she firmly believes that her model for empowerment of people should be dedicated to the millions of people who suffer politically, economically, socially, culturally, and even from climatic disempowerment, deprivation, vulnerability, exclusion or marginalisation.
"So, I have been trying to realise this model of empowerment for the 160 million people of Bangladesh through pro-poor programmes aimed at bringing about holistic
justice and equality, and thereby, strengthening democracy," she said.
To ensure gender parity and women empowerment, Hasina said, education has been made free for giris upto secondary level, and women are being encouraged to take active part in all national activities.
She said around 12,828 women members were elected in the seats kept reserved for women. Women are now occupying about 30 percent posts in government offices, and serving in the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and in UN peacekeepingmissions.
"We are also trying to ensure equal rights of the ethnic minorities in accordance with the 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord," she said.
Hasina also told the audience that the effectiveness, acceptability and durability of the People's
Empowerment Model lie in its inherent strength of addressing the related issues properly.
The model needs vital support of governments, civil societies, UN, international financial institutions and development partners for its widespread implementation, the prime minister said.
With Foreign Minister Dipu Moni in the chair, the session was addressed, among others, by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Nepal Narayan Kaji Shrestra, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Prof G L Peiris, Rural Development Minister of India Shrijairam Ramesh, Works and Human Settlement Minister of Bhutan Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba, Deputy Foreign Minister of Maldives Ali Hameed, UN Undersecretary General Dr Joan Clos and Deputy Director General of Unesco