Professor Mustafizur Rahman shares his views on the dialogue offer by the prime minister to the opposition leader preceding the upcoming polls, published in The Financial Express on Sunday, 27 October 2013.
Half-hearted initiative won’t bring about desired results: Businesses
Hail PM’s dialogue offer to end political deadlock
FE Report
Country’s leading economists and business leaders welcomed Saturday the dialogue offer by the prime minister to the opposition leader. They urged them to continue efforts for an amicable solution to the ongoing political deadlock.
They said any half-hearted initiative would not bring about the desired results of holding an acceptable election which eventually will badly affect the country’s overall business activities.
They also called for withdrawing the 60-hour hartal called by the opposition for the sake of bringing stability in the country and create an environment for the dialogue.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made a phone call to main opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia inviting her to a dinner at Gana Bhaban Monday evening to start the much-awaited dialogue.
Dr Mustafizur Rahman, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), observed the PM’s initiative as ‘very positive’ and said it has created room for dialogue to reach an acceptable solution.
He expressed the hope that the acceptable solution will emerge with the continued efforts from both sides.
“It can now be expected that an impartial formula for election would come out from the dialogues which would also help remove black cloud gathering over the economy,” he added.
Dr Ahsan H Mansur, Executive Director of Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh, also observed that the phone call by the PM is inspiring saying that it has given people a mental relief.
He, however, said dialogue must continue after the PM’s initiative showing respect and tolerance to each other.
“In the democratic system, the government must be more compromising than the opposition to remove their fear”, Mr Mansur said.
Dr Zaid Bakht, research director of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies said from the economic perspective, dialogue is a must to keep the wheel of the economy running.
He expects that both sides would show their utmost sincerity to each other during the dialogue to come to an agreement for an acceptable election.
Also termed the discussion ‘very positive’, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Atiqul Islam said “It is a good beginning.”
He, however, urged the two top political leaders not to linger the discussion as the garment sector has been passing through a vulnerable situation particularly after the Rana Plaza collapse..
As the RMG is the highest export earning sector and the Accord and the Alliance are coming forward to improve the workplace safety in the country, the political stability is a must, he said
Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) President AKM Salim Osman expressed his concern over the countrywide 60-hour hartal and said businessmen sufferings would not lessen if it continues”
“If both the leaders sit together, why it should take place to cause our sufferings,” he questioned.
The hartal should be withdrawn immediately after the call for the greater interest of the country and its economy, he added.
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) welcomed the telephonic conversation and called upon the opposition to sit for a dialogue with the government by withdrawing the hartal.
“It is a very good sign. We welcome it. We hope both parties (the ruling and the opposition) should reach a consensus for resolving the ongoing political crisis,” president of DCCI Md Sabur Khan told the FE.
“We hope the ongoing political standoff will end immediately for the sake of country’s economy and the welfare of the people,” he added.