Democracy can’t be protected depending only on two: Eminent citizens

 Dhaka

Eminent citizens at a discussion on Wednesday said democracy cannot be protected depending only on two heads of major political parties -- Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia.
“It won’t be good for democracy if all depend only on the two top leaders. The mid-level leaders who are elected by people have the greater responsibilities,” said eminent journalist ABM Musa.
About the present worsening political situation, noted columnist Syed Abul Moksud said other top leaders of both the ruling Awami League and the opposition BNP are more responsible for this than Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia.
Weekly Aajkal, published from New York, arranged the discussion at the Jatiya Press Club with its chief editor and publisher Zakaria Masud Ziko in the chair.
The programme was addressed, among others, by senior journalist Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Dhaka University professor Dr Asif Nazrul, and ruling party MP Golam Mowla Roni.
ABM Musa claimed that both Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia do not have the ‘actual political talent’ which is needed to govern the country because they got the leadership from their family and husband. “We’ll have to find out those who are giving them (Hasina and Khaleda) advice.”
Echoing ABM Musa’s remarks, Abul Moksud said the responsibility of protecting democracy does not alone depend on the two leaders. “All will have to come forward and play their due role.”
He criticised Barrister Rafiqul Haque for his call to Hasina and Khaleda to sit across the same table for discussion and said, “It’s not necessary to hold dialogue between the two top leaders; instead they need to reach out to people.”
Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul said the two top leaders have the responsibility to protect democracy. “If they don’t have the responsibility we’ll have to form the third political force.”
Asif Nazrul said he had only seen the golden time of poetry, arts and journalism during autocratic Ershad’s rule, ‘nothing else’. “But the two leaders (Hasina and Khaleda) are worse than Ershad.”
Mahmudur Rahman Manna said it is the historical tradition that the two leaders have taken the responsibility of protecting democracy. “If they fail, people have to take decision.”