'Democracy threatened by 'monarchic' style of rule'
Staff Correspondent
Leaders of several political parties yesterday called for reforms of the election commission and the caretaker government system to strengthen the democratic processes.Democracy is being threatened by a 'monarchic style of rule by family members', they said at the inaugural session of the Central Council -2005 of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) in the city. The leaders called on Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman HM Ershad to come up with an alternative leadership ignoring any intimidation. "While the democracy is being replaced by family rule, state resources is being accumulated as private and family wealth," said Abdul Mannan, secretary general of Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh. The country has been afflicted by rampant corruption in absence of democracy and the rule of law, he said. Addressing the JSD leaders and workers, Ershad said, "I am beside you. I am willing to serve the country with people's mandate." Abdul Kader Siddiqi, ASM Abdur Rob, Abdul Malek Ratan also spoke at the council chaired by JSD President Noor Alam Ziku.
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(From left) Abdul Kader Siddiqi, chief of Krishak Sramik Janata League, ASM Abdur Rob, founder general secretary of JSD, and HM Ershad, chairman of Jatiya Party, at the inaugural session of the JSD Council-2005 held in the city yesterday. PHOTO: STAR |
