CPD, as part of its ongoing effort in promoting good governance and inclusive development, organised a dialogue on Democracy and Development: Alleviating Poverty in South Asia on 25 August 2011, at the BRAC Centre Inn Auditorium in Dhaka. Former President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (1994-2005) and Chairperson, South Asia Policy and Research Institute (SAPRI) Hon’ble Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was the Guest Speaker of the special event while Professor Dr Gowher Rizvi, Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh attended the programme as the Special Guest.
Kumaratunga urged political leaders to ensure participation of people from every level of society in development efforts which often remain missing due to dictatorship in South Asia. She observed that without inclusiveness and equal distribution of wealth, the nations would not be able to come out of poverty. While identifying the factors responsible for conflict and economic regression in the South Asian region, she prioritised economic, social, cultural and political inequality. She said, “Inequality leads to instability in the society and the state, which give rise to various kinds of conflicts.”
Linking good governance to sustainable development, she stressed that democracy and inclusiveness of local government is essential for development activities and prosperity. “It is not enough to undertake development such as roads, housing and others, rather it is also important to establish good governance with inclusive participation of all citizens irrespective of their religion, caste and ethnicity in the process of democratic and economic development in South Asia,” she added.
Exemplifying Sri Lanka she observed, people are losing faith in democratic institutions due to its exclusive nature which is reflected in the drastic decline of numbers of votes. About the volatile political situation of Sri Lanka she highlighted that political vengeance is persisting in her country. She informed that in last couple of years 24 journalists were killed and a presidential election candidate was captivated in jail.
The floor discussion raised several issues on effectiveness of democratic system. Former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Abul Hasan Chowdhury said that the implementation of inclusiveness theory will require devolution of central authority, and provide resource base and autonomous decision making power for these authorities; however, there is clear lack of political willingness in this regard, not only in Bangladesh but all over the region.
Professor Rehman Sobhan, Chairman, CPD and also the Chair of the dialogue voiced his opinion saying, prevalent tension constraints the inherently non-inclusive development process, and growing inequality in the region is the cause for this tension.
Barrister Moudud Ahmed, MP said the governments of South Asian countries should change their mind-set and avoid the path of revenge towards their rivals for achieving the sustainable economical growth in the region.
Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud remarked that gradual erosion of trust in democratic institutions are also raising the level of conflict and widening the inequality gap although the economic growth in South Asia is on the rise. Dr Gowher Rizvi, however, opposed the idea by saying that in countries such as Bangladesh people look up to the state for their need for social security, and a democratic government is the mechanism for ensuring transparency in delivering services to them. Government’s failure to deliver service according to their promise is the reason behind people losing trust upon the institution, he added.
The programme was attended among others by CPD Board of Trustees Ms Khushi Kabir and Professor Anisuzzaman; Mr Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, Vice Chairman, BNP; H E Mr W A Sarath K Weragoda, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Bangladesh; Mr C D Casie Chety, Executive Director, SAPRI; Mr Mahbubur Rahman, President, ICC-B; and Mr Abdul Awal Mintoo, CEO, Multimode Group of Companies.
Hon’ble Kumaratunga on her ending note stressed on the need for South Asia to work together as a region in mitigating the adverse situation and ensuring inclusive development for the poor for the sustainability of democratic system.