Dhaka: BNP Standing Committee Member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Wednesday emphasized the importance of establishing strong democratic institutions for the current Parliament to become a significant milestone in Bangladesh’s democratic history. He shared his views during a round-table discussion titled ‘The Current National Parliament: A New Milestone in Democratic Politics’ held at a city hotel.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the event was chaired by former Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Anwarullah Chowdhury and organized by Citizen’s Forum, Bangladesh. Dr Moyeen Khan highlighted the critical responsibility of building robust democratic institutions, drawing comparisons with the United States, where established institutions support democratic governance even during challenging times. He questioned the development of such institutions in Bangladesh over the past 50 years.
Dr Moyeen Khan noted that the current Parliament bears the added responsibility of establishing durable democratic institutions to safeguard future democracy. He expressed that while it is premature to determine if the current Parliament will be a milestone, the ongoing discussions signify a renewed aspiration for democracy in the country.
He also spoke about the dual role of lawmakers in Bangladesh, where MPs are expected to engage in both lawmaking and addressing public demands at the grassroots level. He raised concerns over the effectiveness of lawmakers in fulfilling their legislative duties given the large volume of laws and ordinances processed by Parliament.
Despite these challenges, Dr Moyeen Khan expressed optimism about the Parliament’s potential to work for the people’s welfare, especially after a period marked by sacrifice and struggle. He underscored the need for constant vigilance and active political engagement to protect democratic values, emphasizing the balance between majority rule and minority opinions.
The discussion also included insights from Prof Dr Burhan Uddin Khan, economist Prof Mahbub Ullah, SHUJAN Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar, and others. Notable attendees included Prime Minister’s Speech Writer Mahfuzur Rahman, former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury, and journalist Shahidul Alam, among others.