Vision 2030 is nothing but a joke

The “Vision 2030” unveiled by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was nothing but “a joke and an attempt to deceive the nation”, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said yesterday.

Speaking at a press conference at the AL president's Dhanmondi office, he alleged that the BNP stole the idea from the AL's “Vision 2021”.

AL President Sheikh Hasina had presented “Vision 2021” to the nation before the 2008 national election.

“The Vision 2030 is a colourful balloon which would burst soon,” said Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister.

“Violation of other's copyright is a moral crime. It's a kind of political dishonesty. The BNP can imitate, but can't innovate,” the minister said.

Some leaders of the AL-led 14-party alliance echoed the views of Quader, saying that there was “nothing new” in Khaleda's plan.

However, some civil society members hailed the BNP's plan saying it contained a lot of great ideas in many ways reflecting public expectations. They said it would be good for the nation if the BNP can implement the vision.

Rashed Khan Menon, president of Workers Party, a component of the AL-led alliance government, termed the “Vision 2030” “fool's paradise”.

“Khaleda made some pledges which she didn't meet in the past and not even during her tenure in power,” he said.

Shirin Akter, general secretary of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), another component of the alliance government, said she found nothing new in Khaleda's “Vision 2030”. She said what Khaleda has mentioned is already in discussion in the political arena.

“Khaleda Zia will have to apologise to the countrymen for her previous misdeeds and cut relations with war criminals. Only then people would listen to her words. People won't trust her until she has done so,” Shirin added.

Talking to The Daily Star, former cabinet secretary Ali Imam Majumder said Khaleda's vision seemed good.

“I will welcome the BNP if it sets off on a new journey by getting over with its past,” he said, adding that the BNP failed to ensure good governance during its previous tenures in power.

All other political parties also failed to do so during their tenures in power, said Majumder.

Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the “Vision 2030” contained a lot of great ideas in many ways reflecting public expectations.

“Hence it deserves to be closely looked into. On the other hand, what has been presented is a hugely ambitious wish-list, many items of which are directly antithetical to the party's ideological orientation and track record of political and governance performance.”

He, however, said even if the party is granted the benefit of doubt, question may be raised if the BNP itself believes the package to be achievable, and consistent with what the party is known to stand for and aspire to.

It would nevertheless be interesting to watch if and when the party comes up with any genuine strategic plan to achieve the lofty ideas, said the TIB executive director.

“If the party doesn't follow up with a concrete road map pretty soon to mobilise its own organisational reform and leadership capacity to be able to implement the noble ideas, the package may well be forgotten,” Iftekharuzzaman told The Daily Star.

Echoing the views of Ali Imam Majumder, former election commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Shakhawat Hussain said he would welcome the BNP if it starts a journey in line with the “Vision 2030”.

“Every political party will have to cope with the time and I think the BNP came up with its vision to meet the demand and to look forward.   But the party's future position will determine whether it would implement the vision,” he told this      correspondent.