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Campaign
for Political Reform (CAPRE) on March
Local NGOs Stand
for Confrontation Free Politics Neutral and Decentralized
Administration
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Confrontational
politics has got momentum during last three decades
in Bangladesh. In fact, root of the problem lies
with the lack of exercising greater restraint
and tolerance. Our state policy should be welfare-oriented,
not control bounded. State should create an environment
for exploring the potential of individual as well
as to formulate policies for creating a just society
including alleviation of poverty. And this should
be the mission of the political leaders. Are they
willing to do the job? Almost in all cases the
trend of confrontational politics and alienation
from the people pushed the whole nation to a stalemate.
Under these circumstances, the citizens have to
think seriously, whether our state mechanism accommodates
adequate measures to alleviate poverty and creates
a just environment to explore the potentials of
individual to develop him/herself.
In the beginning of 2001, it was felt necessary
by some NGOs and civil society organizations to
do some work in favour of confrontation free politics.
From this point of view, COAST has organized 7
seminars at upazila level and 2 seminars at district
level in Bhola and Cox’s Bazar on the basis
of two papers titled ‘Confrontational Politics
and Reform Agenda of Civil Society` and ‘Election
2001` prepared by Barrister Manzur Hasan of Transparency
International Bangladesh (TIB) and Feroz M Hasan
of Fair Election Monitoring Alliance (FEMA) with
the support of Governance Coalition. The local
civil society members and politicians attended
the seminars spontaneously and 56 agenda of political
reform have been taken into account in view of
the participants` opinion and experience gained
from the seminars.
On the basis of these 56 issues, to have a wider
dissemination and build a level of opinion, COAST
has conducted a survey among the NGOs throughout
the country. About 500 NGOs from every corner
of the country responded under a sort of coalition.
With the participation of leading and regional
NGOs a network was formed in May 2001 titled Campaign
for Political Reform (CAPRE). Central committee
includes 22 people-centred regional NGOs. They
are: NRDS- Noakhali, SETU- Kushtia, Aid Comilla-
Comilla, VARD- Sylhet, COAST Trust- Bhola and
Cox’s Bazar, Rupantar- Khulna, GBS- Bogra,
SPOSP- Moulvi Bazar, SDS- Sariotpur, Pabna Progoti
Shangha- Pabna, Come to Work- Dinajpur, Swa- Unnayan-
Rajshahi, WAVE- Chuadanga, YPSA- Chittagong, SPEED-Barisal
and Sabolomby Unnayan Shangstha- Netrokona. The
central committee subsequently formed 22 regional,
46 district and 300 upazila committee with other
interested NGOs. At this moment, CAPRE’s
objective is to build opinion in favour of confrontation
free politics, neutral and decentralized administrative
system and raise these demand in front of politicians.
CAPRE thinks, in the process civil society will
work as pressure group to rectify the political
system of the country. Central committee has already
implemented the campaign design, which includes
: meet the Secretary General of major political
parties, conduct press briefing at national level,
conduct press briefing and arrange seminars at
district level, meet candidates of parliament
election and local leaders ( by district committee),
raise consciousness among the beneficiaries of
NGOs and arrange seminars, meetings and rallies
at grassroots level.
Central committee has finally selected 46 issues
out of 56 selected earlier. Based on the 46 issues,
a flip chart and a booklet has been developed
considering the comments from local govt. experts,
political leaders, NGO professionals and communication
experts. It was also tested among the groups of
member NGOs.
CAPRE has already got wider appreciation. It has
got a small fund from ActionAid Bangladesh. 22
regional orientation and planning meeting, 46
district seminars and press conference have had
happened throughout the country. Almost all the
local and national dailies have covered its activities.
Finally, around 700 NGOs participated at grassroot
level as campaigner. A process documentation of
experiences and a proposal for future is being
outlined. The issues are :
Governance
- We want responsive and responsible Governance
and Rule of law.
- Ensure Accountability, Transparency, Neutrality
and Professionalism among the police, administration,
Judiciary and magistracy.
- Government resources should impartially be distributed
under a national policy without political and
parochial consideration.
- Ensure people oriented service delivery system
and keep administration neutral, unbiased, independent
and accountable to the people.
- Implement recommendations of different Reform
Commissions to strengthen the administration and
general governance of the country.
- Ensure appointment of non-partisan and neutral
persons in various Commissions, constitutional
bodies and universities.
- Form an independent broadcasting authority to
run Television , Radio and other public media
services.
Political Culture
- Speak more on consensus, unity, cooperation
and tolerance rather than conflict, enmity, rivalry
and chaos in the society.
- Compete with long term development program and
avoid charging each other on some unhealthy.
- Avoid such political agenda those disrupt normal
civic life.
- Political leaders and MPs shouldn’t try
to exert illegal influence on administration,
local government institution, judiciary and other
service agencies.
- Ensure participation of opposition parties,
civil society members, local organizations in
long term development planning and national budget
preparation.
- MPs shouldn’t boycott the parliamentary
sessions under any circumstances.
- Constitutional provisions are needed so that
people can “recall” their elected
MPs before expiry of their tenure if found unsuitable.
Practice of Democracy within the Political
Parties
- Political parties should make their by-laws
by following democratic norms and principles and
they should follow their by -laws.
- Income and expenditure of all political parties
should be published every year.
- Annual general meetings of all the political
parties should be held regularly.
- In every level of the party there should be
secret election for selecting leaders.
- Primary selection of the parliamentary candidates
should come from constituency units of the party.
- Cancel the membership of terrors, mastans, anti-socials
and black money holders from the party.
- Retired government official would only become
eligible for contesting parliamentary election
after five years of their retirement from the
service.
- Every political party must keep themembership
list who gives subscription. Party should maintain
such list of all 300 constituency units or 64
administrative districts. It should be submitted
to the Election Commission (EC) and be preserved
as government document.
- The political parties should get registration
from EC in view of the above conditions.
- Party nominations should go in favour of those
who are involved in politics for long time and
well known for their honest, sincere and pro-poor
stand.
Election and Voting Rights
- Ensure enforcement of lawful procedures during
elections so that illegal threats, gratification
and impositions of different unlawful acts can
be punished.
- Arrest the identified and known terrorists and
women and children traffickers and even, if needed,
continue “combing operations” to collect
arms and ammunitions for safety and security of
common people.
- Election commission should be an independent
organization with-adequate fund and financial
authority so that it can work freely with its
own strength under a clear legal framework.
- Election Commission should strictly monitor
the prescribe limit of election expenses of all
the candidates.
Corruption and Financial Irregularities
- Establish permanent Human Rights and Anti-Corruption
Commission or Ombudsman.
- Administrative and political system should be
established so that any complain against corruption
and violation of human rights can legally be documented
locally in every upazila.
- Political parties shouldn’t grant membership
to a person who illegally acquired wealth, misused
public resources, and take action against those
who are charged for corruption of any type and
nature.
Decentralization and Local Democracy
- Discontinue the system of centralization of
power in the capital city. Power and authority
should be decentralized at district, upazila and
union levels.
- All government service holders should be accountable
to the respective local government units (i.e.
union, upazila and district).
- Ensure “one step service” delivery
system in all service providing agencies.
- Form a permanent Local Government Commission
free from the ministry’s control.
- Establish and facilitate strong local government
institutions (district, upazilla, union) without
the interference of bureaucrats and MPs.
- A certain percentage of national budget should
permanently be allocated for local government
under a specific policy.
- Abolish all existing Divisions as administrative
tier and distribute resources and manpower of
former divisions to the districts and upazilas.
Education and Health
- Political parties and government should be committed
in implementing the reform agenda recommended
by the different education commissions.
- Necessary steps should be taken to stop partisan
activities of teachers at all levels.
- Take steps for ensuring uniform and quality
education especially science and technology oriented
education at primary and secondary levels.
- Ensure participation of all stakeholders in
making National Health, Drug and Education Policies.
And resource allocation in health and education
sector in national budget should be enhanced.
- Ensure health services and accountability of
the hospital authorities at the union, upazilla
and district level local government institutions.
The specialist doctors should be made available
at the local levels and it should be ensured that
they are staying in those places and rendering
services to the people.
- Political parties and government should be more
careful to make educational institutions free
from mastans, terrorists, partisan teachers and
administrators.
- Stop creating party wings and cadres of political
bosses in educational institutions.
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SUPRO
( Campaign
for Good Governance )
House 13/3, Road 2, Shamoli, Dhaka-1207.
Phone (PABX): +880-2-812 5181, 815 4673, +880174 014
203
Fax: +880-2-912 9395, Email:
info@supro.org
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