Democracy must be advanced through dialogue and debate among all parties and if political parties stop talking, democracy will go backwards, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD) Minister Md Tajul Islam said.
“I don't think Bangladesh is the best democratic country in the world. But the democratic system is in its place here. Democracy is the practice of accepting what is good in other groups,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at a program on the local government elections.
A Debate organisation--Debate for Democracy (DFD) organised the Shadow Parliament debate competition at FDC in the capital. Hassan Ahamed Chowdhury Kiron, the Chairman of DFD chaired the program, according to a press release.
“Casting votes by the dead persons or children are isolated incidents and not desirable. There are pros and cons to both party nominations and non-party candidacies in local government elections. Whether or not this election is done with party symbols is not in conflict with the law. Many things change over time. The electoral system may also change,” the minister said.
He said it is not possible to consolidate a democratic system overnight. There are debates about elections in many countries including America, Canada, and India. The Netherlands had to re-election due to low turnout. If those who talk about level playing field in the elections do not come to the elections then how will it be implemented?
Hassan Ahamed Chowdhury Kiron said, “BNP and its partners have boycotted the upazila elections like the national elections. If they participated, this election would have been more acceptable.”
Awami League has warned the relatives of the MPs not to participate in the upazila elections, but it is not accepted in many places. In several places, sons, brothers, nephews of ministers and MPs are participating in the elections, he said.
“In all cases money, muscle power act as the accessories of election with party symbols or election with individual symbols. The fight in this year's upazila election will be among candidates of Awami League vs Awami League. In this fight, it is believed that the leader of Awami League who has more power and wealth will wear the garland of victory,” he said.
Debaters of Dhaka Medical College defeated Manarat International University in the shadow parliament.
