DHAKA: Canadian Members of Parliament Russ Hiebert, MP and Joe Daniel, MP said political stability is essential for Bangladesh to move forward, and that a key to creating that stability is free, fair and credible elections.
They came up with the observation a pre-election observation report released on the national political situation in Bangladesh, November 23.
The MPs travelled to Dhaka last week and met with leaders from a wide cross-section of Bangladeshi society including religious leaders, journalists, lawyers, academics, former government and military officials, and representatives of various civil society organizations.
They heard about the current political situation in the nation, including various perspectives on the role of the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Awami League, the BNP, and other political parties on the country’s affairs, and about Bangladeshis’ hopes for a stable political future.
The MPs heard serious concerns expressed about Jamaat-e-Islami, a radical Islamist party, which is still a major factor in Bangladeshi politics as the organization is well financed and may be gaining influence within the main opposition party, the BNP.
And the MPs heard about the progress made by the Awami League Government-appointed War Crimes Tribunal, which, although it cannot address every wrong committed in the past, has nevertheless served to bring a measure of justice and reconciliation in Bangladesh where none existed before.
Finally, as stated in their report, the MPs observed “a high level of optimism about the future of Bangladesh, both socially and economically, despite the current political unrest. There was unanimity on the part of all those interviewed that political stability is essential for Bangladesh to move forward, and that a key to creating that stability is free, fair and credible elections.”
A team from the Parliament of Canada visited Bangladesh from 11th - 15th November 2013 to assess the evolving political, social and economic situation in the run-up to the general elections due to take place there shortly.
The delegation was led by Canadian Parliamentarians Mr. Russel Hiebert and Mr. Joe Daniel.
The timing of the team was significant given the continuing street violence engineered by the fundamentalist Jamaat e Islami and the disruption of the economy and social activity resulting from the incessant strikes called by the Bangladesh National Party and its allies.
The issue of the International War Crimes Tribunal investigating the genocide of 1971 also figured in the discussions. The members were briefed by advocates from the International Crimes Tribunal about the testimony given by the survivors of the genocide and the families of victims on the basis of which the Tribunal had sentenced senior leaders of the Jamaat e Islami to punishment. The delegation members agreed that justice demanded that guilty persons who had managed to evade capture by fleeing to other countries should be returned to Bangladesh to face punishment. They were full of praise for the determination with which the Tribunal was working to close the final chapter of the gory events of 1971. The recent attacks by the Jamaat e Islami against members of the minority communities, in protest against the Tribunal`s verdicts, were condemned by the members of the delegation who called for the rights of all minority groups to be protected.
In their interaction with representatives of women`s groups the members emphasized the imperative need to empower women to play a more significant role in politics and in other fields of national activity. They endorsed the argument made by the women`s representatives that without political empowerment the economic wellbeing of women could not be ensured. A member of the delegation cited the example of Canada where women were well represented in corporate boardrooms.
Source: menafn.com
BDST: 1306 HRS, NOV 24, 2013
