বাংলাদেশের গণতন্ত্র ক্রমশ ক্ষয়িষ্ণু

স্টিভ সিমা 

মিয়ানমারে নৃশংসতার শিকার হয়ে প্রায় ১০ লাখ রোহিঙ্গা পালিয়ে বাংলাদেশে আশ্রয় নিতে বাধ্য হয়েছে। এতে সৃষ্টি হয়েছে চলমান এক মানবিক সংকট। এই সংকট নিয়ে লড়াই করার কারণে বাংলাদেশের দিকে বিশ্ববাসীর দৃষ্টি আকৃষ্ট হয়েছে। আন্তর্জাতিক সংগঠন ও অন্যান্য দেশ এই সংকট মোকাবিলায় বাংলাদেশ সরকারকে সহযোগিতা দিয়ে যাচ্ছে। কিন্তু তারা দেশের ভেতর ক্রমবর্ধমান অকার্যকর গণতন্ত্রের দিকে নজর দিচ্ছে কমই। বাংলাদেশ একটি ঐতিহাসিক বহুদলীয় রাজনৈতিক সংস্কৃতির দেশ।

কিন্তু সাম্প্রতিক সময়ে গণতন্ত্র উল্লেখযোগ্যভাবে দুর্বল হয়েছে। নির্বাচনের পথে প্রবেশ করেছে এ দেশ। নতুন মেরুকৃত বহুদলীয় প্রতিযোগিতা ও একদলীয় শাসনের মধ্যে এই নির্বাচন হতে পারে একটি ‘টিপিং পয়েন্ট’। একই সঙ্গে রোহিঙ্গা সংকটের দিকে যেমন নজর দেয়া উচিত আন্তর্জাতিক সম্প্রদায়ের, ঠিক তেমনইভাবে বাংলাদেশের অবনমনশীল গণতান্ত্রিক চরিত্রের বিষয়েও চাপ দেয়া উচিত। 

যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের পররাষ্ট্র মন্ত্রণালয় সম্প্রতি মানবাধিকার বিষয়ক রিপোর্ট দিয়েছে। এতে দেখা যায়, ২০০৮ সালে ক্ষমতায় আসার পর থেকে প্রধানমন্ত্রী শেখ হাসিনা ও তার ক্ষমতাসীন দল আওয়ামী লীগ অব্যাহতভাবে কঠোর থেকে কঠোরতর রাজনৈতিক কৌশল অবলম্বন করেছেন। মিডিয়ার ওপর আক্রমণ চালিয়ে, বিচার বিভাগে প্রাধান্য বিস্তার করে এবং বিরোধী দলীয় নেতাকর্মীদের জেলে ঢুকানোর মতো নিষ্পেষণমূলক পদক্ষেপ নিয়ে সমালোচকদের কণ্ঠ স্তব্ধ করে দিচ্ছে আওয়ামী লীগ এমন অভিযোগ আছে দলটির বিরুদ্ধে। ২০১৩-২০১৪র নির্বাচন বর্জনের মধ্য দিয়ে ব্যাপক আকারে সহিংসতার আশ্রয় নিয়েছে প্রধান বিরোধী দল বিএনপি এবং এই সহিংসতায় অনেক মানুষ নিহত হয়েছেন। 

রাজনৈতিক এই বৈরিতার ফলে নির্বাচনে সুষ্ঠু প্রতিযোগিতাকে খর্ব করা হয়েছে। দুর্নীতির অভিযোগে এ বছরের ফেব্রুয়ারিতে বিএনপির চেয়ারপারসন খালেদা জিয়াকে পাঁচ বছরের জেল দেয়া হয়েছে। একে রাজনৈতিক বলে দাবি করছে বিএনপি। দেশের সংবিধান অনুযায়ী কোনো ব্যক্তি যদি দুই বছরের বেশি কারাদণ্ড পেয়ে থাকেন তাহলে তিনি নির্বাচনে প্রতিদ্বন্দ্বিতায় অযোগ্য। সেই হিসেবে আসন্ন জাতীয় নির্বাচনে খালেদা জিয়াকে নির্বাচনের বাইরে রাখাও হতে পারে। এর ফলে ২০১৯ সালের জানুয়ারির আগেই যে নির্বাচন হওয়ার কথা তা বর্জন করতে পারে বিএনপি, যেমনটা তারা পাঁচ বছর আগে করেছিল। 

এর বাইরেও বাংলাদেশের গণতন্ত্রে আরো অনেক চাপ রয়েছে। এগুলো হলো দুর্নীতি, দুর্বল শাসন ব্যবস্থা, দারিদ্র্য, জনসংখ্যাতত্ত্ব, পরিবেশগত বিপর্যয় ও ইসলামপন্থি উগ্রবাদ। ইন্টারন্যাশনাল রিপাবলিকান ইনস্টিটিউট (আইআরআই) পরিচালিত এক জনমত জরিপ অনুযায়ী, দেশে অর্থনৈতিক অগ্রগতি সত্ত্বেও কঠিন বাস্তবতার মুখোমুখি বাংলাদেশিরা।

দেশটির নাগরিকরা অভিযোগ করছেন যে, সেখানে উচ্চ মাত্রায় বেকারত্ব, পণ্যমূল্য বৃদ্ধিসহ আরো নানা রকম অর্থনৈতিক চ্যালেঞ্জ রয়েছে। তারা বলছেন, ঘুষ ও অন্যান্য দুর্নীতির কারণে চাকরি পাওয়া, আইনের শাসন পাওয়া, স্বাস্থ্যসেবা পাওয়া, শিক্ষা ও সরকারি অন্যন্য পণ্য পাওয়ার সুযোগ সীমিত। 

উপরন্তু ব্যক্তিগত নিরাপত্তা রয়েছে নাজুক অবস্থায়। বিশেষ করে বাংলাদেশি নারীরা বসবাস করছেন যৌন হয়রানির এক আশঙ্কা নিয়ে, যার বিচার পাওয়া দুরূহ। নাগরিকদের মূল ক্ষোভ রয়েছে দুর্নীতি, রাজনৈতিক সহিংসতা ও অস্বচ্ছ নির্বাচন নিয়ে। নিজ দেশের গণতন্ত্রের মান, রাজনৈতিক দলগুলো নিয়ে তাদের নেতিবাচক দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি থাকলেও বাংলাদেশের মানুষ গণতন্ত্রকে একটি ইতিবাচক দৃষ্টিতে দেখে থাকেন। 

আসন্ন নির্বাচনকে আওয়ামী লীগ ও বিএনপি বাংলাদেশের গণতন্ত্রের জন্য, অধিকতর কার্যকর, দায়িত্বশীল হওয়া, প্রতিক্রিয়াশীল সরকার ও বিরোধী দল হওয়ার জন্য একটি সুযোগ হিসেবে নিতে পারে। এটা করতে হলে দলগুলোকে তাদের অগ্রাধিকার ঠিক করতে হবে এবং গড়ে তুলতে হবে প্রাতিষ্ঠানিক সক্ষমতা। এক্ষেত্রে আন্তর্জাতিক গণতন্ত্র তাদের সহায়তা করতে পারে। ডেমোক্রেসি অ্যাসিসট্যান্ট হলো একটি আন্তর্জাতিক উন্নয়নমূলক উদ্যোগ। এখান থেকে রাজনৈতিক দল, নাগরিক সমাজ, গণতন্ত্রের জন্য লড়াই করা অন্য নতুন গণতন্ত্রপন্থিদের জন্য এবং গণতন্ত্রের জন্য সংগ্রামরতদের জন্য সহায়তা দিয়ে থাকে। বাংলাদেশে এমন কিছু সংগঠনের মধ্যে অন্যতম হলো আইআরআই। তারা বছরের পর বছর গণতান্ত্রিক সহযোগিতা দিয়ে আসছে। এই উদ্যোগগুলো একবার এখানে দেখে নেয়া যেতে পারে। যেমন: 

ফলপ্রসূ রাজনৈতিক আলোচনার ক্ষেত্র সৃষ্টি করা: ২০১৭ সালে আইআরআই এর চালানো এক জরিপ অনুযায়ী, শতকরা ৬৬ ভাগ বাংলাদেশি চান আওয়ামী লীগ অন্য দলগুলোর সঙ্গে যোগাযোগ করুক। রাজনৈতিক দলগুলোর মধ্যে আস্থা গড়ে তোলার জন্য বড় বড় রাজনৈতিক দলগুলোর সঙ্গে ধারাবাহিকভাবে সংলাপ আয়োজন করতে থাকে আইআরআই। সেখানে রাজনৈতিক মূল বিষয় ও নিরাপত্তামূলক ইস্যুগুলো নিয়ে আলোচনা করা হয়। রাজনৈতিক দলগুলোর মধ্যে শত্রুতাপূর্ণ সম্পর্ক থাকা সত্ত্বেও দলের সিনিয়র পর্যায়ের নেতারা এমন বৈঠককে অত্যন্ত গুরুত্ব দিয়ে সমর্থন করেছিলেন। 

পক্ষপাতহীন রাজনৈতিক কর্মকাণ্ডে যুবকদের সংযুক্ত করুন: আগামী বছরে আইআরআই তরুণ, যুবকদের মধ্যে রাজনৈতিক সংলাপমূলক কর্মসূচি বিস্তৃত করবে। এক্ষেত্রে তারা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের ক্যাম্পাসে সেমিনার আয়োজন করবে। সেখানে পক্ষপাতহীন রাজনৈতিক কর্মকাণ্ড ও গঠনমূলক ক্যারিয়ার নিয়ে আলোচনা করা হবে। যুবকদের উদ্বুদ্ধ করা হবে। 

নির্বাচনী কর্মকাণ্ডের সততায় সমর্থন: গত নির্বাচনগুলোর সময়ে আন্তর্জাতিক নির্বাচন পর্যবেক্ষক, প্রশিক্ষক, গণতান্ত্রিক নির্বাচনে পর্যবেক্ষকদের সমর্থনসহ সংশ্লিষ্ট বিষয়ে সহযোগিতা দিয়ে এসেছে। আন্তর্জাতিক ও অভ্যন্তরীণ পর্যবেক্ষকরা পর্যবেক্ষণে নির্বাচনে প্রতারণা বা সহিংসতার বিষয়ে ধরা পড়ে। 

নাগরিক সমাজ ও মিডিয়ার সক্ষমতা বাড়ানো: অতীতে নাগরিক সমাজ ও মিডিয়ার সঙ্গে কাজ করেছে আইআরআই। তাদেরকে শক্তিশালী করা হয়েছে নজরদারি করতে। জনগণকে রাজনৈতিক সচেতনতা ও নির্বাচনে দুর্নীতি সম্পর্কে সচেতন করা হয়েছে। 

রাষ্ট্রীয় প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলোর সক্ষমতা গড়ে তুলতে হবে: একটি অকার্যকর অথবা দলীয় নিরাপত্তা খাত এবং নির্বাচন কমিশন নির্বাচন নিয়ে আস্থাকে খর্ব করতে পারেন। নির্বাচনী সহিংসতা ছড়িয়ে দিতে পারেন। এসব প্রতিষ্ঠানের কর্মক্ষমতা বৃদ্ধিতে কাজ করতে পারেন আন্তর্জাতিক অ্যাক্টররা। প্রশিক্ষিণ দিতে পারেন। সর্বোচ্চ সেবা দেয়ার জন্য পরামর্শ দিতে পারেন। 

সর্বোতভাবে দেশের অবনমনশীল গণতন্ত্রকে মেরামত করতে পারেন বাংলাদেশিরা নিজেরাই। নির্বাচনের মাত্র ছয় মাস আগে শুধু আন্তর্জাতিক দাতারা বাংলাদেশের রাজনৈতিক প্রেক্ষিত এবং নির্বাচনী ব্যবস্থাকে বদলে দিতে পারেন না। কিন্তু যদি যথাযথভাবে টার্গেট করা হয় এবং অর্থায়ন হয় তাহলে তারা নাগরিক, রাজনৈতিক দলগুলোর মধ্যে গুরুতর ইস্যু নিয়ে বিতর্কের আয়োজন করতে পারে, যা দেশের ওপর প্রভাব ফেলবে। এটা হবে অগ্রগতিমূলক।  

(বাংলাদেশ অ্যান্ড শ্রীলঙ্কা অ্যান্ড জিওফ্রে ম্যাকডোনাল্ড-এর আবাসিক প্রোগ্রাম পরিচালক স্টিভ সিমা। ইন্টারন্যাশনাল রিপাবলিকান ইনস্টিটিউটের গণতন্ত্র ও সুশাসন বিষয়ক প্রিন্সিপাল গবেষকও তিনি। গতকাল অনলাইন কাউন্সিল অন ফরেন রিলেশন-এ প্রকাশিত তার লেখার অনুবাদ) 

• Courtesy: Manabzamin /June 06, 2018

Of Akram, accountability, Joseph and justice

BANGLADESH'S ANTI-DRUG WAR

C R Abrar

The government of Bangladesh has declared a war on narcotics. It has proclaimed its intent to uproot the scourge of drugs from the land. “None will be spared”, came the stern warning from the authorities. Rapid Action Battalion, the elite law enforcement agency (LEA), swung into action from the first day of the holy month of Ramadan. Other agencies, including the police, were not to be left behind. They shored up the drive. All were imbibed with the spirit to cleanse the society of the evil. In this election year perhaps the purge became a handy tool to garner popular support for the ruling party. 

Claims have been made that general masses in Bangladesh, like their counterparts in Colombia, Philippines and Thailand during such drives, welcomed the move. After all, many were victims or likely victims of the drug menace. All want a respite.

The cleansing campaign has been on full steam for almost three weeks. Evidence of perceived success has not been difficult to come by. Over a 17-day period, 127 alleged drug peddlers have been liquidated. Official sources inform thousands of suspected peddlers have been detained, tens of thousands of yaba tablets and huge amount of cannabis have been seized and scores of lethal weapons including firearms with ammunition have been recovered.

MOUNTING SHOOTOUTS

Since the commencement of the operation time and again bigwigs in the government including the Minister for Home Affairs insisted that the drive was yielding results and reaffirmed it will continue. The actions of the LEAs in dealing with the drug threat have secured almost unqualified endorsement of the political leadership. Buoyed by such approval the incidents of death in situations of what in official parlance has been dubbed as “shootouts” and “encounters” continue to mount.

In contrast, rights activists, discerning observers and a section of foreign diplomats posted in Bangladesh, view such deaths as “extrajudicial killings”, a term fervidly rejected by the officials. The latter maintain, in prosecuting this war members of LEAs act within the bounds of the law, some even got injured. They admit, however, only in a few instances “collateral damages” might have been sustained, a small price the nation should be prepared to pay for the greater good, they argue. For the latter, attempts to draw analogy with the drive against the drug dealers in Duterte's Philippines is not only unfortunate, it's preposterous.

Like many other societies drug abuse is a major concern in Bangladesh. For long citizens have been demanding decisive action to address the problem. There has been a general acknowledgement that loopholes in the existing criminal justice system create opportunities for the wrong-doers to evade justice. Such conditions of distrust on the prevailing system both among the citizens and members of the law enforcement agencies prompt them to opt for quick fixes.

“Shootouts” or “encounters” is one such method. The infamous “Operation Clean heart” under the BNP government has been the apt precursor of such quick-fix solution. Observers have noted that the current round of alleged extrajudicial killings constitute “the bloodiest anti-crime drive with death tolls already surpassing that of the Operation Clean Heart (57 deaths) or even the anti-militant drive after the Gulshan attack (80 deaths)”.

UNPALATABLE QUESTIONS

Bangladesh's war on narcotics has given rise to a number of unpalatable questions. Narratives of official handouts and advisories issued in the aftermath of the alleged “encounters” or “shootouts” claim that the victims get killed or succumb to injuries sustained when shootouts break out between their accomplices and members of LEAs as they (the victims) direct the latter to their secret hideouts and caches of drugs or arms, usually in the early hours of the morning. The narrative clearly establishes the fact that the victims were in custody of LEAs and thus their personal safety and security lay with the concerned agencies. If they are indeed taken to such hideouts, is not ensuring adequate security an imperative for the protection of members of LEAs as well as the alleged criminals? Do not the fanfare with which anti-narcotics drives are launched actually compromise their effectiveness as it forewarns the targeted individuals of impending action?

Concerns have also been expressed regarding the efficacy of such drives. So far, the campaign has largely netted low level peddlers. The bigwigs of drug trade and their patrons in the political quarters, civil administration and LEAs have remained unscathed. Police sources have claimed that a list of names of 554 drug dealers were prepared as early as 2012. The revised list compiled in 2014 included 1,200 names. Question has been raised despite the existence of such lists what precluded the LEAs in taking action against the alleged dealers for so long?

Media reports inform that names of influential members engaged in narcotics trade disappear from such lists when they go for clearance to the ministry of home affairs. One such recent list painstakingly prepared by agencies not only had the names of dealers but also the details of errant political party leaders, including two members of parliament of the ruling party, and police officers. Does not such discriminatory decision to drop the names of powerful persons dampen the spirit of those who take risk and put in much effort in preparing such lists? Does not the public have the right to know on what grounds names of the influential persons get deleted?

Press reports on the drug war further inform that a section of law enforcers have engaged in extortion by instilling fear among people. In two instances in Comilla and Gazipur, families of victims have claimed that their loved ones were killed in “gunfights” even after they had paid extortion money to the police. Mistaken identity had resulted in the death of an innocent man in Chittagong while family members of an alleged drug dealer in Netrokona reported that his involvement in political activism was the principal reason for his death in a staged shootout.

AKRAM’S SENSATIONAL CASE

In a sensational case on June 1, 2018 wife of Akramul Huq, councillor of Teknaf upazilla, claimed that her husband was murdered in cold blood as a result of political vendetta. Asserting it was a premeditated murder at a press conference she presented audio recordings of phone conversations that point the fingers to a LEA. The case has created a furore in social media. Rights activists maintain the incident only vindicated their prediction that innocent lives are bound to be lost in dispensation of such illegal summary justice.

During the course of the anti-narcotics drive time and again citizens were told that law is applicable to all irrespective of their social standing. However, at a time when such iron fisted policy of zero-tolerance on drug front was being pursued, on May 31, 2018 Dhaka dailies carried the story of presidential clemency to a notorious convicted criminal Tofayel Ahmed Joseph, a former leader of the student wing of the ruling party. He subsequently joined the infamous Subrata Bain's gang known as Seven Star, exerted his power on the city and became one of the top criminals of the country. Joseph was sentenced to death by the High Court for murder of a political leader. On appeal the Supreme Court commuted the sentence to life term.

Press reports inform that the process of Joseph's release apparently began on March 31. In contrast to keeping him in a cabin in the second floor of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital where criminals with ailments are kept, Joseph was admitted to the 9th floor of the new building of the DMCH. “It has been done to free him secretly and to dodge the law enforcement and intelligence agencies,” a source was quoted by The Daily Star seeking anonymity. Joseph was accused in 10 other cases of extortion and possession of illegal firearms.

DON’T THEY HAVE RIGHT TO DEFEND?

Even if allegations of drug peddling against the victims of alleged extrajudicial killings were true, the fact remains under the law of the land that the individuals concerned had the right to defend themselves in the court of law. The statements of senior functionaries of the state and those of LEAs convey the message that as alleged peddlers are engaged in a nefarious trade they forfeit the right to seek protection of the law. Clearly such a position by responsible members of the government betrays their serious disregard of the law.

As heinous a crime drug peddling is, it does not accord the LEAs any authority to act arbitrarily beyond the purview of the law. The constitution of the republic and the country's international commitment oblige them to deal with the problem only within the limits of the law. Cardinal among those are presumption of innocence until proven guilty and the right to access due procedure.

A challenge was thrown to critics of the drug war to furnish evidence whether so far any innocent person became a victim of the ongoing drive. Suffice it to say that the law of the land accords the judiciary the sole authority to determine if anyone is guilty of a crime. Until an accused is pronounced guilty by such a competent authority the law deems him innocent. One hopes in prosecuting this war on drugs the executive branch respects this time-tested tenet.

CR Abrar teaches international relations at the University of Dhaka.

• Courtesy: The Daily Star/ June 6, 2018

EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS — Time to break the silence

Ali Riaz

Since the government launched the so-called “anti-drug drive” in early May, akin to the Philippines' “war on drugs”, more than one hundred people have been subjected to extrajudicial killings. Although the number and pace of these killings, described by the government as “gunfight”, have been staggering, extrajudicial killing is not a new phenomenon in Bangladesh. It has become a familiar tool of government for more than a decade. 

The number of people killed in 2016 stood at 156; in the year before, at least 178 people lost their lives at the hands of law enforcing agencies. All along, the members of the ruling party and law enforcing agencies rejected these allegations.

STAGE MANAGED

This time around, an audio recording of an AL leader's last-minute conversations with his family over telephone before being killed by the Rapid Action Battalion has engendered emotional reactions across the country and emerged as unambiguous evidence of what was already known to many for years—that most of these crossfires/encounters/gunfights, whether against the militants, opposition activists or petty criminals, were staged.

It is in this context that the Secretary General of the ruling party, Obaidul Quader, made the comment that “one or two 'mistakes' may happen during such drives”. This comment, however callous it may sound, is regrettably too familiar. This government and its predecessors, since 2004, never acknowledged these incidents as extrajudicial killings, let alone take responsibility.

There is no dearth of reminding the incumbent of what it said prior to coming to power. In March 2005, a newsletter of then-opposition Awami League, in the context of the establishment of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) by its arch-rival the BNP and the operations of the RAB, read, “These forces have been given so much power and authority that they have blatantly disregarded constitutional provisions, human rights laws as well as court law. 

Almost every day they are catching people on different false charges, and are brutally murdering them, covering it by calling it 'crossfire deaths'. The victims are not tried or given any opportunity for self-defence.” Additionally, many have pointed to the promise made in the 2008 election manifesto: “Extrajudicial killings will be stopped.” But none of this has deterred the ruling party from legitimising these extrajudicial killings over the years.

CUTLTURE OF IMMUNITY

The culture of impunity has continued as the ruling party has increasingly become more reliant on the force as the principal mode of governance and authoritarianism has become the defining feature of the current system. The rhetoric and actions of the ruling party have emboldened those who are blatantly disregarding the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution and engaged in wanton killings. The government not only describes these victims as “drug dealers” but implicitly argues that as a menace to society, these citizens are not worthy of due process. Their words and attitudes have, essentially, acted as an indemnification of these acts.

The leaders of the ruling party and members of the government, by engaging members of law enforcement agencies in these acts, have ostensibly disregarded the court of the land. We may recall that the High Court, in a verdict in September 2016 regarding indemnification of the members of the law enforcing agencies, reminded us the very foundation of the rule of law: “no one is above law, and everybody is subject to law.” The observation was made while delivering the verdict on the writ petition regarding the “Joint Drive Indemnity Act, 2003.”

 The Indemnity Act was passed by the parliament after engaging members of the army and law enforcement agencies in a security operation called “Operation Clean Heart”, an operation akin to the current anti-drug drive. 

The operation was conducted under the BNP-led government from October 16, 2002 to January 9, 2003. On February 24, 2003, the government enacted the “Joint Drive Indemnity Act, 2003” providing indemnity to all joint forces' actions. The then government claimed that the operation was necessary for recovering illegal weapons and restoring law and order. At least 57 people died in custody and hundreds were injured by torture during the operation, while the government claimed that only 12 died of “heart attack” in hospitals after being handed over to police.

HC VERDICT BEING VIOLATED

The High Court, in its full verdict released in January 2017, said: “Even a hardcore criminal has the right to be tried in the competent Court of law for his alleged perpetration of crimes. He cannot be physically annihilated or killed by the members of the joint forces for his alleged crimes.” 

The verdict also maintained that the law-enforcing agencies or the joint forces cannot take the law into their own hands and by doing so, they have infringed the relevant provisions of the Constitution. The court not only pointed to the criminal liabilities of the individuals but stated unequivocally that “the State cannot shy away from its responsibility for the illegal and unconstitutional actions of the public functionaries” (Dhaka Tribune, January 3, 2017). Understandably, the ruling party leaders cheered the verdict.

The disregard for fundamental rights, the constitution and the court by the government is deeply disturbing, but in the absence of an accountable political environment, limited democratic space and a heightened role of law enforcement agencies, it appears to have become the “new normal”. What is frightening is the normalisation of extrajudicial killings and rationalisation of these unlawful acts by supporters of the government. 

The highly polarised political environment, fear of being ostracised, of being labelled as unpatriotic and of being vilified have precluded members of the civil society to speak out against extrajudicial killings for long, particularly when political activists of the opposition parties became victims or when it was adopted as a strategy to quash militancy.

The passionate reactions to the killings of the AL leader, a welcome development, appear to be mostly about the “incident” rather than questioning the strategy of extrajudicial killings. The silence, which has increasingly turned into a social paralysis, is enabling the continuation of the phenomenon. It is time to break the silence and confront the phenomenon, rather than reacting to one incident at a time. 

Ali Riaz is a distinguished professor of political science at the Illinois State University, USA.

• Courtesy: The Daily Star /June 06, 2018

Call for justice getting louder

Cox's Bazar Jubo League discusses Akram killing with home boss; Teknaf AL to hold emergency meet today; 4 more killed as drug purge on.

Two top leaders of Cox's Bazar Jubo League met Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan last night and informed him that they knew Akramul Haque for 12-13 years but never found anything that proved his involvement in drug trade.

“Akram was not that solvent. He also never appeared to be a drug dealer,” Sohel Ahmed Bahadur, president of the unit, told The Daily Star after the meeting.

Bahadur and the unit's General Secretary Shahidul Haque held a meeting with the minister at the latter's Dhanmondi residence for about 20 minutes from 9:00pm.

Bahadur said they requested the home boss to launch a fair investigation into the killing of Akramul, a former leader of Jubo League, the youth wing of ruling Awami League.

EXEMPLARY PUNISHMENT DEMANDED

They also demanded exemplary punishment to anyone, if found guilty in the probe.

In response, Asaduzzaman said an investigation into the incident had already begun and action would be taken as per the probe report, Bahadur said.

The Jubo League leaders also requested the minister to take action against those who published false and fabricated news against Akram portraying him as a drug dealer and an owner of vast properties.

A news report mentioned that Akramul had a number of cars and houses, Bahadur said. “But we met Akramul's family members and we did not find anything like that.”

The two leaders also sought assistance from the state for the family of Akramul.

On Thursday, Akramul's wife Ayesha Begum alleged during a press conference at Cox's Bazar Press Club that her husband was murdered in cold blood. She gave journalists four audio clips in support of her claim.

Rab, however, claimed he was killed in “gunfight” between the force and drug traders on May 27.

Amid huge outcry on social media over Akramul's death, the government decided to investigate the incident. The home minister on Monday talked to Ayesha but it could not be confirmed what he said to her.

Officials from the Prime Ministers' Office also communicated with the family, sources in the family said.

Meanwhile, Teknaf Awami League leaders said an emergency meeting of its executive committee will be held today to discuss the killing of Akram and decide the unit's next course of action over the matter.

The AL unit will also urge the prime minister and the home boss to launch an investigation to find out whether local MP Abdur Rahman Bodi played any role in the killing, they added.

MORE 'SHOOTOUTS' 

Four more people were killed in three districts yesterday as the nationwide anti-narcotics drive continues.

Two alleged drug traders were killed in a “gunfight” between drug traders and police in Rangpur and Bogra while two bodies with deep injury marks were recovered from the Brahmaputra River in Mymensingh, police claimed.

The Daily Star could not verify the claims.

With the four, at least 136 alleged drug traders have been killed in the drive in the last 21 days. Most of them died in so-called shootouts involving Rab and police.

There was no incident of death in “shootout” on Monday.

In Rangpur, Shahjahan Hossain alias Dabirul, 50, was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Kaunia upazila around 3:30am, our Dinajpur correspondent reported quoting Saiful Islam, additional superintendent of Rangpur police (Circle A).

Shahjahan, son of Sohrab Hossain of the upazila, was accused in 10 cases, police said. The law enforcers claimed to have recovered 126 yaba pills, 173 Phensedyl bottles, a pistol and a bullet from the spot.

In Bogra, Liton alias Riten, 32, was killed in a “gunfight” with detectives in the town's Matidali area.

Police claimed they recovered 200 yaba tablets and two machetes from the scene, our Bogra correspondent reported quoting Officer-In-Charge of Detective Branch (DB) in the district Nure-Alam Siddiquee.

Police claimed Liton was accused in five drug cases.

LITON’S WIFE CONTRADICTED

Liton's wife Rasheda Khatun, however, said her husband was a drug addict and used to sell drugs three years ago. He stopped taking drugs a couple of months ago and started working as a helper of a truck driver recently, she claimed.

“He gave up everything. So why did police kill him?” she asked.

The two killed in Mymensingh were identified as Munna Mia, 22, and Idris Ali, 50, both hailing from Mymensingh town's Purahitpara area.

Locals found the bodies floating in the Brahmaputra River around 11:00am. On information, police recovered the bodies, said Khandaker Shaker Ahmed, inspector (investigation) of Kotwali Police Station.

Munna was accused in around 12 cases, including nine related to narcotics, while Idris in eight cases, he claimed.

They might have been killed in “clashes” between drug peddlers and their bodies were dumped into the river, he added.

Idris used to take drugs and he was admitted to a rehabilitation centre in the town's Mashkanda area 20 days ago, said Siddiqur Rahman, his younger brother.

“We were informed from the centre early Saturday that plainclothes men, identifying themselves as detectives, took away Idris, a father of three, from the centre. He had been traceless since then,” said Saiddiqur.

Munna, who was also admitted to the centre, was taken away from there early Saturday, his family members claimed.

Sumaiya, younger sister of Munna, said her brother used to run a garment shop in the town's Station Road area and he had quit drugs around five years ago. 

“We were in fear as many people are getting killed in the ongoing drive. And for this, we had admitted him at the centre to save him. But he had failed,” she said.

FAMILIES DEMANDED INVESTIGATION

Family members of both the deceased demanded proper investigation into the deaths.

This correspondent visited the centre for comments but none of the officials there agreed to talk. A youth, without disclosing his name, just gave a visiting card of the centre's chairman Alimun Raziun Rajib, who could not be reached.

Contacted, Ashiqur Rahman, officer-in-charge of DB of police in Mymensingh, denied the allegations.

Besides, two more alleged drug traders Lutfar Rahman and Alauddin Mia were injured during two separate “gunfights” between drug peddlers in Hakimpur and Sadar upazila in Dinajpur early yesterday, police claimed.

They were being treated at M Abdur Rahim Medical College Hospital in the district.

Meanwhile, a murder case was filed yesterday, days after bullet-hit body of alleged drug dealer Azad Kha was recovered in Alalpur area of Faridpur.

The law enforcers filed the case using the name of the family of Azad and kept it in the dark, the family members alleged.

Azad, 45, was allegedly picked up by plainclothes men on Friday night, and his body was recovered on Monday morning, claimed the family members.

However, AFM Nasim, officer-in-charge of Faridpur Sadar Police Station, said, “Rive Begum, wife of Azad Kha, filed the murder case against some unidentified men with Sadar Police Station on Monday night.”

• Courtesy: The Daily Star /June 06, 2018

Padma bridge cost to rise again

With Tk 1,400cr latest increase, total cost will be Tk 30,193cr

The cost of the much-hyped Padma Bridge project is going to increase again as the government has to spend more to acquire additional land, taking the total project cost to Tk 30,193 crore.

The Bridges Division, the implementing authority of the project, recently sent a proposal to the planning ministry to acquire 1,163 hectares of land at a cost of Tk 1,400 core, said planning ministry officials.

The proposal may be placed before the next meeting of Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC), they added.

As per the last revision in January 2016, total project cost was Tk 28,793 crore.

According to officials, the proposal for acquiring more land will be approved as a single project. The increased amount will be added to the total cost of the project when the entire Padma Bridge project will go through revision.

Sources said the road transport and bridges ministry sent a DO (demand order) letter to the planning ministry on April 9, detailing the revision proposal.

As per the letter, around 212 crore cubic feet dredging spoil has to be dumped due to river training along the bank of the Padma. The char area of the river is suitable for disposing of the spoil in an environment-friendly way.

Although chars were picked as a suitable place for dumping when the design of the bridge was prepared, the cost of the char land was not included in DPP considering the land as khas land, the DO letter reads.

The district administration later declared the land as private property and that is why it has to be acquired. Besides, the Padma witnessed erosion on the Mawa side while new chars formed on the Jajira side.

As per the last revision in 2016, the authorities had decided to acquire 1,530 hectares for Tk 1,299 crore. The latest proposal says a total of 2,693 hectares will be acquired at a cost of 2,699 crore.

According to the Bridges Division proposal, a feasibility study on the project was conducted with assistance from JICA during 2003 to 2005. The original cost was estimated in 2007 on the basis of the study. However, it did not include the cost of railway lines on the bridge.

With financing from Asian Development Bank, the work on a detailed design of the bridge had started in 2009. Based on that, the project cost was revised at the end of 2010.

The cost almost doubled to Tk 20,507 crore when the first revision was done in 2011, including the cost of the railway lines.

According to the first revision, the project was scheduled to be completed in 2015. The deadline for completion of the project has been extended to 2018.

Fifty-three percent work of the project has been completed till March, said sources at Bridges Division.

Two major components of the project are main bridge and river training. Of them, 59 percent work of the main bridge and 36.5 percent of the river training have been completed.

The project is running behind schedule as the World Bank withdrew its $1.2 billion loan in 2012 over allegations of corruption conspiracies. The government then moved to build the bridge with its own funds.

• Courtesy: The Daily Star/ June 06,2018

‘বাড়াবাড়ি করলে ইয়াবার মামলা দিয়ে ক্রসফায়ারে দেব’

চাঁদা দাবির অভিযোগে ঢাকার ভাটারা থানার ৩ পুলিশ সদস্যের বিরুদ্ধে আদালতে মামলা হয়েছে। মঙ্গলবার ঢাকার সিএমএম আদালতে চা দোকানি মাকসুদা বেগম বাদী হয়ে এ মামলা করেন।

যাদের বিরুদ্ধে মামলা দায়ের হয়েছে তারা হলেন ভাটারা থানার এসআই হাসান মাসুদ, কনস্টেবল জাকির (ড্রাইভার), অজ্ঞাতনামা আরও এক কনস্টেবল ও এক আনসার সদস্য।

মামলার অভিযোগে বলা হয়, মাকসুদা বেগম বারিধারার জে-ব্লকে ২০নং রোডে চা-পান সিগারেটের দোকান করেন। গত ৩০ মে আসামিরা বাদীর দোকানে গিয়ে ১০ হাজার টাকা চাঁদা দাবি করেন। বাদী তা দিতে অস্বীকার করলে দোকানে ভাঙচুর চালায় এবং দোকানে থাকা কলা, বিস্কুট নষ্ট করে সিগারেট নিয়ে যান। আসামিরা আনুমানিক ৬ হাজার টাকা ক্ষতিসাধন করেন।

মামলার সাক্ষী বাবুল ইসলাম রাজু ফটো সাংবাদিক পরিচয়ে দোকানের মালামাল নষ্ট করার কারণ জানতে চাইলে আসামিরা বলেন, চাঁদার ১০ হাজার টাকা না দিলে যারা বাদীর পক্ষ নেবে সবাইকে মাদকের মামলায় ফাঁসিয়ে ক্রসফায়ার দেয়া হবে। বাদী অসহায় হয়ে ভাটারা থানায় তাদের বিরুদ্ধে অভিযোগ দিতে গেলে তা গ্রহণ না করে হুমকি দিয়ে বাসায় পাঠিয়ে দেয় এবং বাদীকে বলে, বেশি বাড়াবাড়ি করলে ইয়াবার মামলা দিয়ে ক্রসফায়ারে দিয়ে দেব।

মঙ্গলবার মাকসুদা বেগম বাধ্য হয়ে ঢাকার মহানগর হাকিম জাকির হোসেন টিপুর আদালতে এ মামলা দায়ের করেন। আদালত বাদীর জবানবন্দি রেকর্ড করেন। পরে আদেশ দেয়ার জন্য রাখেন।

কার্টসি —  যুগান্তর। লিঙ্ক — https://bit.ly/2xLxtbJ

UN drugs body fails to criticise Bangladesh on drug killings

 By David Bergman

David Bergman

In a period of 17 days, between May 15 to June 2, Bangladesh law enforcement authorities have killed 132 men in what they call 'anti-drug' operations.

The authorities claim that these men were killed in gunfights with the law enforcement authorities.

However, there is now significant evidence, as reported in local media, that many if not the vast majority of these men, were murdered by law enforcement authorities. After being picked up by law enforcement authorities - and whilst in state custody - these men were simply killed.

In this scenario, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has issued an extraordinary lax statement that fails to criticise or condemn the Bangladesh government or their law enforcement authorities at all. No wonder the Bangladesh government believes it can continue this current killing spree with impunity.

The UNODC statement says:

Vienna, 1 June 2018 - In response to media and civil society enquiries regarding reports from Bangladesh on anti-drug operations that have allegedly resulted in dozens of deaths, the following statement was issued by the spokesperson of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime: 

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is closely following developments in the situation. 

UNODC urges all Member States to adhere to their commitments to promote balanced, human rights-based approaches to drug control, in line with the three international drug control conventions and the outcome document of the United Nations General Assembly special session on the world drug problem. 

We stand ready to engage with all countries to help bring criminals to justice with the appropriate legal safeguards, in line with international standards and norms, and to promote evidence-based prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration.

• Courtesy  —  Bangladesh Politico

Topsoil grabbing by brick kilns

The reckless purchase of topsoil from poor farmers by brick kiln owners in different parts of the country carries dreadful portents. The practice in the long run is feared to render swathes of fertile lands barren, apart from inviting environmental hazards in the nearby areas. With the cover of the organically rich topsoil gone, the bare chemical-infested soil residue washes into the adjacent water bodies resulting in scores of environment-related woes. The brunt is borne by the farmers. Forcing cropland owners to sell topsoil to brick kilns has been in place in the country for over two decades. The topsoil is widely used locally as the chief ingredient in manufacturing bricks. The practice of buying this valuable soil from croplands, especially after the Aman harvest, for kilns is now widespread. It was earlier confined to the northern region.

That the unabated removal of topsoil from agricultural plots will have a telling impact on the country's total food production does not visibly bother the desperate brick kiln owners. For their part, the average farmers are found unaware of the consequences. With pressure mounting on them, hapless farmers finally sell the topsoil. When they realise the damages they have done to their croplands, it is too late. It's almost impossible to bring fertility back to lands once it is taken away. The process of the lands' fertility loss occurs in phases. In most cases, cultivation of three crops per year plummets to a single one. At a stage like this, even higher quantities of chemical fertilisers and pesticide cannot increase crop yields. Taking the topsoil away is like robbing a land of all its nutrients and organic materials. No crop can grow without these soil components.

The collective strength of the brick kiln syndicates in the country's rural swathes has lately emerged as formidably unassailable. Even the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) appears to be helpless before the kiln owners, evidently backed by local influential quarters. The scenario has long taken an ominous turn in the country's northern part. Around 2,500 bighas of farmlands are said to lose their topsoil layers every year in a northern district. The soil ends up being used in the manufacture of bricks in 35 kilns in the district. This is but one instance of the virtual grabbing of the country's topsoil by errant brick kiln owners. The practice has become pervasive in many other parts of the country. Continued shrinkage of agricultural lands and their infertility pose a major threat to the country's cropping pattern. According to a World Bank (WB) study conducted a few years ago, Bangladesh has one of the lowest rates of arable land per head in the world, at about 54 hectares per 1000 people. Demographic pressure and urbanisation has caused cultivated land to shrink at a rate of 1.0 per cent a year, as the population grows 1.6 per cent annually, the study notes. The most worrying aspect of the observation is with 175 per cent usage, cropping intensity in the country has reached its limits.

Against this distressing backdrop of freestyle removal of the vital topsoil from croplands, the agricultural sector may have to brace for gloomier times. With vast swathes of arable land falling victim to the greed of unscrupulous brick kiln owners, the last nail in the coffin of the country's agriculture seems looming large. Given this stark reality, Bangladesh may have to revive its now-suspended plan for shopping agro-lands in foreign countries like South Sudan or Cambodia.  

• Courtesy: The Financial Express/ Editorial/ June 05, 2018      

Banking commission by this month: Muhith

No tax burden in next budget

Finance Minister AMA Muhith said on Monday the upcoming budget will see increase in taxes in a few areas as the national election looms.

"The new taxes are a very few. The rate of increase will also be very low," he said.

"That's a piece of welcome news for people."

Talking to reporters at his secretariat office, the minister ruled out the possibility of any immediate impact of the announcement of the fiscal blueprint on the market.

"… I would say that in the last ten years, after announcement of the budget, there had not been much impact on the market, and this will continue," the minister added.

Elaborating the budget features, Muhith said the corporate tax for cigarette and cellphone companies will remain unchanged at 45 per cent. For other sectors, the highest rate will be 37.5 per cent.

"I have not touched those rates which are below 37.5 per cent. I have only reduced the high rates, the lower rates are not bad," he said.

Replying to a question as to how revenue collection will go up when tax is not enhanced, the minister said an increased number of people is now paying it.

The revenue collection will rise from this trend, he added. He said the good news is a large number of young people are paying tax.

"Our target was 1.5 million to 2.0 million tax returnees. But now it has already crossed 3.3 million."

The minister said, the share of income tax in total revenue collection was 10 per cent in 1982. Presently, income tax is the second-highest source of revenue income after Value Added Tax (VAT).

"My target is to increase the share of income tax to 50 per cent (of total revenue) in the next two to three years. It is now about 30 to 35 per cent."

Responding to a question, Muhith said customs duty will disappear over time. "Our target from customs duty is not so high," he said.

Responding to another query, he said social media like Facebook has been brought under tax net in the next budget. "Our neighbouring countries taxed them years back," he said.

The minister said the VAT system is most complicated. "Our promise is we are not introducing the 2012 law now. We are still under 1991 VAT law because of the Prime Minister's promise."

Muhith said going forward, there will be three VAT rates, not a uniform VAT rate. In the next budget, the VAT rate will remain five, but the ultimate goal is three tax rates -- low, middle and high, he added.

High rate is already imposed -- 15 per cent, the low and middle ones have not been determined yet, he noted.

Replying to another query, he said the biggest revenue is coming from VAT and it will continue.

Asked whether this budget would keep any special scope for legalising undisclosed money, the minister answered in the negative.

"No, No, No. The scope for black (undisclosed) money will not be given. Last year, no such chance was given too," he said. Muhith said according to the income tax law, one can legalise undisclosed money by paying an additional 25 per cent tax and this will continue.

He said it made little difference to the scope for legalising undisclosed money. "Last time only a negligible amount was legalised."

The minister said a bank commission will be set up by this month."The banking sector expanded a lot. It has both sides-good and bad," he said.

The last banking commission was set up in 2004. Recommendations of such commissions were not fully implemented, he said.

Regarding CPD's comment on the banking sector, Muhith said: "It was nonsense. Nothing more can be said about it."

On Sunday, local think-tank the Centre for Policy Dialogue said Bangladesh's banking sector is an 'orphan' and the government is oppressing that orphan.

The minister hinted that the tax-free ceiling for individual taxpayers would remain unchanged in the coming budget.

"The level of tax collection was not changed last year, this year won't be changed, too," he said.

Regarding reviewing the yield rate of savings tools, the minister said he will have a meeting just after the budget.

"I will certainly reduce it. I will have to make it compatible with the market rate. It distorts the market," he said. He said in the budget, he will speak about pension. There will be some statements on some of the basic principles of the universal pension.

"What I am thinking is we shall begin experimenting on the pension," he said. The basic principle is that it will be a contributory pension scheme, except for those who do not work and are dependent on the state, he noted.

Muhith said the organised private sector companies have been paying it. "Most of them have some kinds of pension."

He said at this moment the government can cover 0.8 million to 0.9 million people under the pension system. "It's still a very small portion of the people of the country."

However, he said the social safety net covers a pretty large number of people.

Replying to another query, the minister said some Tk 4.0 billion will be allocated in the budget for the welfare of Rohingya people.

Muhith is scheduled to place a Tk 4.6 trillion budget in parliament Thursday.

• Courtesy: The Financial Express /June 05, 2018

সংস্কারে সরকারের সাড়া দেয়া উচিত

ধসে পড়া ব্যাংকব্যবস্থা ও উন্নয়নে বিষম দুর্নীতি নিয়ে কথা বলেছে বেসরকারি গবেষণা সংস্থা সেন্টার ফর পলিসি ডায়ালগ সিপিডি। তাদের পক্ষ থেকে বলা হয়েছে, ব্যাংক খাতে রোগের চিকিৎসা করার পরিবর্তে আমরা উপসর্গের পেছনে দৌড়াচ্ছি। ব্যাংক খাতে যে তারল্য সঙ্কটের কথা বলা হচ্ছে, সেটি তো রোগ নয়, সমস্যাও এটি নয়। সমস্যা হলো সুশাসনের অভাব। 

একইভাবে উন্নয়ন কর্মকাণ্ডে অতি উচ্চ ব্যয়ের বিষয়টি তারা গুরুত্বের সাথে উল্লেখ করেছে। সময় বাড়িয়ে নেয়া বিশাল প্রকল্প এবং উচ্চ ব্যয়ের বিষয়টি ক্ষতিয়ে দেখার আহ্বান জানিয়েছে সিপিডি। সিপিডির এমন পর্যবেক্ষণ স্বাভাবিক। ব্যাংক খাতের দুরবস্থা সবার জানা। বর্তমান সরকারের আমলের সব মেগা প্রকল্প নিয়ে কথা উঠেছে। বাস্তবতা হচ্ছে, সরকার এসব বিষয়ে নিজের মত অনুযায়ী চলতে অভ্যস্ত হয়ে পড়েছে। প্রকল্পের গুণগত মান এবং ব্যয় নিয়ে সরকার কোনোভাবে চিন্তা করতে রাজি নয়। 

সিপিডির বিশেষ ফেলো ড. দেবপ্রিয় ভট্টাচার্য্য সংবাদ সম্মেলনে বলেন, ‘ব্যাংকব্যবস্থার দেখভাল করার কথা বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংক ও অর্থ মন্ত্রণালয়ের। তারাই নষ্টভ্রষ্টদের পক্ষে কাজ করছে। ব্যাংক খাত নিয়ে আমাদের বক্তব্য হলো এখন পর্যন্ত ব্যাংক খাতে যা হয়েছে তা হলো, রোগের চিকিৎসা করার চেয়ে তার উপসর্গের পেছনে ছুটেছি। উপসর্গ হলো তথাকথিত তারল্য সঙ্কট। তারল্য সঙ্কট তো কোনো সঙ্কট নয়। সঙ্কট হলো পুরো ব্যাংক খাতের ভেতর সুশাসনের অভাব। 

আমি আগেও বলেছি, ব্যাংক খাত এতিম হয়ে গেছে। যাদের এই খাত দেখভাল করার কথা ছিল, তারাই এখানে অত্যাচার করেছে।’ আরো পর্যবেক্ষণে তিনি বলেন, আমদানি ব্যয়ের মাধ্যমে বিদেশে অর্থ পাচারের মতো ঘটনা ঘটছে, নির্বাচন যখন ঘনিয়ে আসে তখন টাকা পাচারের ঘটনা বেড়ে যায়। দেশের পুঁজিবাজার খুবই বিপর্যয়কর অবস্থার মধ্যে রয়েছে। 

ব্যাংকিং খাতের এই বিপর্যয়কর পরিস্থিতি থেকে উত্তরণের জন্য স্বাধীন ব্যাংক কমিশন গঠন করতে হবে বলে তিনি পরামর্শ দেন। ব্যাংকের প্রধান কারবার ঋণ নিয়ে। এ ব্যাপারে মূল প্রবন্ধে মোস্তাফিজুর রহমান বলেন, বর্তমান আইন দিয়ে ঋণখেলাপিদের আটকানো যাবে না। ফলে মন্দঋণের পরিমাণ বেড়েই যাবে। দেশের ব্যাংকিং খাতে এখন মন্দঋণ ৯ শতাংশের ওপরে আছে। পুরনো ঋণগুলোকে অবলোপনের পরও এই অবস্থা দাঁড়াচ্ছে। তা করা না হলে মন্দঋণের মাত্রা আরো বেশি হতো। যেসব বুদ্ধিমান লোক ঋণকে খেলাপি করার পেছনে কাজ করছেন বা কারসাজি করছেন, তাদের সাথে পাল্লা দেয়ার মতো সক্ষমতা আমাদের এই আইনে নেই। তাই ২০০৩ সালের মানি লোন কোর্ট অ্যাক্ট এবং ১৯৯৭ সালের দেউলিয়াবিষয়ক আইনটি সংস্কার করে যুগোপযোগী করার সুপারিশ করেন তিনি।

বাংলাদেশে বর্তমান সময়ে চলা তোড়জোড় উন্নয়ন নিয়েও কথা বলা হয় সিপিডির পক্ষ থেকে। বাংলাদেশে এক কিলোমিটার রাস্তা নির্মাণ করতে যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের নিউ ইয়র্কের চেয়েও অনেক বেশি খরচ হয়। তারা জানান, বাংলাদেশে আরো বড় তিন-চারটি মেগা প্রকল্প চলছে, তার ব্যয় বিশ্লেষণ করলেও একই তথ্য পাওয়া যাবে। আমরা যতটা না উন্নয়ন ব্যয় নিয়ে চিন্তিত থাকি, তার চেয়ে বেশি চিন্তার বিষয় এর গুণমান। এটি এখন প্রকাশ্য, যে ধরনের প্রকল্প বাস্তবায়ন হচ্ছে, সেটি দীর্ঘ সময় ধরে বাস্তবায়নের ফলে তার ব্যয় বৃদ্ধি পাচ্ছে; কিন্তু প্রকল্পগুলো অতি মূল্যায়িত হয়েছে।

ব্যাংকিং খাত ও উন্নয়ন নিয়ে আগে থেকেই কথা উঠেছে। এসব বিষয়ে সিপিডির মূল্যায়নকে স্বাগত জানানো উচিত। সরকারের উচিত ব্যাংক খাতকে রাজনৈতিক প্রভাব থেকে মুক্ত করা। একইভাবে মেগা উন্নয়ন প্রকল্পগুলোর বাস্তবায়ন গুণমান নিশ্চিত করা এবং উন্নয়ন খাতে দুর্নীতির সুযোগ বন্ধ করা।

• Courtesy: Daily Nayadiganta Editorial /June 05, 2018