Young people have the right to form a political party

Sun, December 29, 2024, 12:00 a.m
Last updated on: Sunday, December 29, 2024, 4:49 a.m

Says advisor Sakhawat Hussain

Staff correspondent

Sun, Dec 29, 2024, 12:00 a.m. Last updated on: Sun, Dec 29, 2024, 4:49 a.m

M Sakhawat Hossain, Advisor to the Ministry of Shipping, speaks in a session on the second day of the two-day National Dialogue 2024 titled ‘Unity, Reform and Elections’ organized by the Forum for Bangladesh Studies at the auditorium of Krishibid Institution in the capital’s Khamarbari area yesterday . Photo: Collected

“>

Mature political parties should encourage the new political parties formed by youth, said M Sakhawat Hussain, the Labor and Employment Advisor.

“I personally think that the young people have the right to participate in elections and form a political party – no one should stop them,” he said at a session of the two-day national dialogue organized by the Forum for Bangladesh Studies yesterday.

For all the latest news, follow The Daily Star’s Google News channel.

Mature political parties should promote them.

“They are not your rivals. If you don’t promote them, we will see the same thing. We need young talent in politics,” he said at the event at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh.

The Students Against Discrimination movement, which sparked the mass uprising that led to the fall of the Awami League government, and its sister platform Jatiya Nagorik Committee plan to launch a new political party within a month or two, their leaders said.

The interim government will not stay in power for long, said Sakhawat.

If reforms don’t happen now, it will be difficult to enforce them in the future, he said, comparing the current flaws in the system to the venom of a cobra.

“You can’t keep a cobra outside and working in the house. Unless you get rid of the cobra’s venom, you’re not safe.”

But reforms will take time, he said.

“You can’t change anything overnight. We have to change the country’s political system. Changes just in electoral law are not enough. The political culture needs to change.”

However, he acknowledged that Bangladesh needs stability at present.

“We are facing a major challenge. The people who take power after the interim government also face a very big challenge. And the challenge is not only internal, but the biggest challenge also comes from external sources.”

Regarding the Arakan Army’s activities in Rakhine, Myanmar, Sakhawat said he has repeatedly said that a new system is emerging in the east and therefore preparations must be made.

“Now it’s happening. You have a new neighbor and he is a different kind of neighbor. If we can’t establish the fastest communication with them, they could be in trouble too.”

Sakhawat proposed a bicameral legislature, a partial proportional representation system, an increase in the number of women’s seats in parliament to 100, the election of women’s seats through public relations, and the adoption of a law on political parties to monitor the parties’ activities.

The upper house should oversee national elections so that an interim government system is not required to oversee parliamentary elections, Sakhawat said.

Earlier, Gonoforum chief Subrata Chowdhury said that the unity that existed immediately after the July uprising had now weakened considerably.

“Forming a political party with the blessing of the government is never a blessing for countrymen,” he added.

The words “Jano Ganotantrik Bangladesh” should be inserted instead of “Gano Prajantantry Bangladesh”, said New Age Editor Nurul Kabir.

Although both terms are translated as “People’s Republic of Bangladesh”, the word “Praja” has a different meaning in Bangla; it means subjects in a feudal system.

There should be no national religion and the five basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, health and education should be included in the fundamental rights section of the constitution.

“Democratization of education is a must…If we have three different streams of education that create three separate groups and cultures, we will end up in a civil war.”

He proposed a uniform education system and the medium of instruction should be Bengali.

A framework for constitutional reform can be prepared, said Hasnat Quaiyum, chief coordinator of Rastro Songskar Andolon.

A Constituent Assembly may be formed in the next general elections, said Sarwar Tusher, joint chairman of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee.

Once the drafting of the new constitution is completed, this Constituent Assembly may be converted into a regular legislature.

“It is not fair to directly contrast reforms and elections. Some people talk about depoliticization, that’s just rhetoric. We need unity in Bangladesh and not just in terms of elections,” he added.

Ganosamhati Andolon Executive Coordinator Abul Hasan Rubel supported Sarwar’s proposal for a Constituent Assembly. A new political solution after a mass uprising makes reforms inevitable, he added.

“This government is for the people, for the people, but not for the people,” said Habibur Rahman, member of the Chhatra Dol research cell.

The government should focus on limited reforms rather than very ambitious reforms, he said, adding that constitution-making was a task for the majority.

The interim government should take exemplary steps in the economic sector, said Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, professor of economics at Dhaka University.

Equality, human dignity and social justice enshrined in the Declaration of Independence should be premises of the constitution, said poet Shahidullah Faraizee.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh joint general secretary Maulana Gazi Ataur Rahman said they support religious freedom for all and are free to practice their religion.

He proposed proportional representation.