Mahbub Piyal, Faridpur 

Under the theme “A conscious, organized, and vocal populace is the shield of democracy,” a citizen dialogue titled ‘Citizen Dialogue for Good Governance’ was held at the district level in Faridpur. 

 

The event was held at a Chinese restaurant’s banquet hall in Faridpur town on Tuesday  where speakers articulated clear views on political reforms, the national charter, electoral systems, minority and Dalit rights, and other issues.

The dialogue was chaired by Md. Liaquat Hossain Kamal, President of the Faridpur District Committee. The event commenced with a minute of silence in memory of those killed and injured in the plane crash at Milestone School in Uttara, Dhaka, followed by the national anthem. In his welcome address, the president stated, “Good governance can only be established when citizens actively express their opinions and take a leading role in fulfilling their responsibilities.”

The dialogue was moderated by Central Coordinator Dilip Kumar Sarkar, who remarked, “This dialogue is not merely a discussion but a process to establish a principled stance, which will serve as the basis for demanding change at the national level.”

Regional Coordinator Md. Khorshed Alam presented an informative overview of the national charter process and its recommendations. The event was attended by notable figures, including Professor M.A. Samad, Secretary of Faridpur Muslim Mission; Professor Altaf Hossain, President of Faridpur Sahitya Parishad; Awlad Hossain Babar, Convener of Faridpur Nagorik Mancha; Panna Bala, Member Secretary; Freedom Fighter Firoz Ahmed, President of SUJON Gopalganj; Jewel Chowdhury, Secretary of Madaripur; Md. Fazlur Rahman, Assistant Secretary of Rajbari; Professor Shipra Roy, President of SONAK; Azharul Islam, Advisor to FDA; Md. Bilayet Hossain, Executive Director of Pathkali; Kamruzzaman Sohel, General Secretary of SUJON; and Advocate Meherunnesa Swapna, among others.

Speakers emphasized the need for electoral reforms and political changes, highlighting the following points:  Reserved seats for women should be replaced with opportunities for direct elections to ensure true empowerment.

Dalit and minority representatives shared experiences of discrimination and deprivation, noting that their identity is not clearly recognized in the constitution. They lack representation beyond reserved seats in national and local elections.

There should be provisions to ensure ethnic identity recognition, inclusion in education, and opportunities for political participation.

 A minimum educational qualification of a degree should be set for Members of Parliament, as those making state decisions must possess adequate knowledge, judgment, and leadership qualities.

Legislation should prevent the same individual from simultaneously holding state responsibilities and leading a political party.
- Returning officers should be neutral individuals rather than administrative representatives.

 Without political education, training, and empowerment for youth, leadership will remain confined to cliques.

The identity of the third gender community should be recognized not only in voter IDs but also in national development plans, with ensured inclusion in local education and employment.

Judicial reforms should include establishing High Court benches at the district level, appointing judges based on merit and experience, setting up an ombudsman, and fostering a corruption-free environment.

To make local government more effective in development and service delivery, Union Parishads and municipalities should be granted financial and administrative autonomy. Without a strong local government, the benefits of proportional representation cannot be realized.

Concluding the dialogue, Dilip Kumar Sarkar announced that through 15 such dialogues, “all 64 districts will be included in the citizen dialogue process, and the recommendations will be presented at a national program in Dhaka on 26 July, serving as a foundation for shaping state policies.”