Nagarik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna has said that prolonging the debate over the president will not benefit anyone, urging for swift reforms and elections.
Speaking at a discussion organized by the Bangladesh Bekar Mukti Parishad at the National Press Club's Jahan Hossain Chowdhury Hall on Tuesday Manna said that prolonging the debate will not benefit anyone.
“If students desire change, the government must respond,” he said, highlighting that it is primarily the students who are actively engaging in these discussions.
Manna said: “The ongoing debate about keeping or removing President Shahabuddin is leading us nowhere. If we keep this debate alive, it won't serve our interests. We want reforms completed as soon as possible so that elections can be held.”
He urged that the reforms underway should create a genuinely acceptable environment for elections. “Attempts to go beyond that will not succeed, as reforms can always be made. We urge the government to expedite this process, allowing people to vote for their preferred candidates.”
Addressing concerns about constitutional changes, Manna questioned the proposed amendments. “There are discussions about altering our constitution. What kind of constitution will it be? Some suggest discarding the 1972 constitution and writing a new one, but everyone will have differing opinions on what that should entail,” he said. He also cautioned against proportional representation, stating, “If that happens, the Awami League might end up in opposition.”
Manna further criticized the government’s approach to unemployment, saying: “There is no agenda to tackle unemployment. The ten-point program for reforms does not include any commission to address this issue. Currently, around four crore people in our country are unemployed, and without investment, how can the government create jobs?”
He said: “The reforms we propose should improve people's quality of life and allow for open dialogue. If a woman cannot safely return home at night, how can we claim to be progressing as a nation?”
