Says Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman
The two-day ‘Citizens’ Rights Fair’ kicked off on Friday at Shilpakala Academy in the city organized by an alliance of 57 grassroots development organisations working across the country.
Former chief adviser to a caretaker government Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman inaugurated the fair.
There is no alternative other than building a good democratic system for ensuring citizen rights, said Rahman at the inaugural ceremony.
“For that, the local government should be strengthened, based on which a strong democracy can be developed. Only then citizen’s rights would be fulfilled,” he added
Noted economist Professor Wahiduddin Mahmud said Bangladesh has done quite well in some of the indicators of citizen rights like school enrolment, infant mortality rate and birth control.
“But on issues like health services, quality of education, human rights especially ensuring rights for the poor people, we are far behind.”
Mahmud, who teaches economics at the University of Dhaka, echoed Justice Rahman on the need of strengthening democratic institution and the leadership for citizen rights.
An Upazilla Parishad vice chairman also stated that local governments are far from being empowered.
“We have no work to do; our jurisdiction is not defined even a year into our election,” Jostina Nokrak from Modhupur upazilla of Tangail district told the gathering.
The fair includes exhibition of the activities the NGOs are operating to promote citizens’ rights and their socio-economic development by setting up stalls, organizing cultural shows and discussions.
With the input from bdnews24.com
