Sunday, September 14, 2014

Political stability a must for economic growth:Daily Sun

  Speakers at a roundtable on Saturday called for a change in political culture, a consensus on national issues, improvement in law and order and fair politics with the spirit of patriotism to ensure political as well as economic stability. To this end, they said, everybody needs to work together to turn the country’s hard-earned democracy into an institutional shape. Seasoned politicians, busines
s leaders, security analysts and academics made the observations at the roundtable styled ‘Political stability for economic growth’ organised by Bangladesh Pratidin in the conference room of East West Media Group Limited in the capital’s Bashundhara Residential Area. “It is a political right to call hartal and hold a rally. But violence in the name of political actions is not acceptable. Political violence creates anarchy. We must have political savvy to shun the path of violence,” said Suranjit Sengupta. The trend of politics has been changed in recent times as political economy has been guiding politics, he observed at the roundtable moderated by Nayem Nizam, editor of the vernacular daily. “Politics of the past hardly exists at present times. It’s now guided by political economy,” said Sengupta, also an advisory council member of Awami League, claiming that stability has been restored after the January 5 polls. “It’d have been better if the polls were contested,” he said, lauding Bangladesh Nationalist Party for developing a good sense not to wage a destructive movement. BNP vice-chairman Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf has pleaded for establishing a political culture for a healthy democracy. Apparently criticising politicians, he said, “After assuming office, we think that our power is limitless. We must change such political culture.” Claiming restoration of political stability impossible through elections only, Yusuf stressed the importance of holding constructive dialogues between the government and major political parties to bring back stability. The BNP leader said every sector slides deep into erosion in terms of moral values. “The nation should be inspired with rich values in order to make it developed,” he said, citing examples of Japan and Germany for the significant progress they made because of a greater national unity after their World War II debacles. Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed sought scope for tradespeople for economic growth and political stability. “The country’s image is tarnished in the absence of political stability. So, it’s a must to establish political stability for the sake of the country’s greater good.” If businesses are given scope to run smoothly, Akram hoped, the country would get a facelift soon. Col (retd) Zafar Imam Bir Bikram, Sultan Mohammad Mansur, Mir Nasir Hossain, Maj Gen (retd) MA Rashid, Shahidullah Azim, Nasreen Awal Mintoo, Kaler Kantho editor Imdadul Haque Milon, Prof Dr Ohiduzzaman and Bangladesh Pratidin executive editor Pir Habibur Rahman, among others, also spoke.

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