Anwarul Kabir pins hopes on 'people power'

Dynastic rule has lost its shine and come to the point of public hate. In an exclusive interview with bdnews24.com Wednesday, former state minister Anwarul Kabir Talukdar pinned hopes on 'people power' to lift the country from political decadence. "It's people who care for people. They share people's joys and sorrows that equally lead society," the presidium member of the fledgling Liberal Democratic Party said to Senior Correspondent Sumon Mahmud.

bdnews24.com
Published : 23 May 2007, 04:21 AM
Updated : 23 May 2007, 04:21 AM
Dhaka, May 23 (bdnews24.com)—Dynastic rule has lost its shine and come to be despised by people. That's what former state minister Anwarul Kabir Talukdar said in an exclusive interview with bdnews24.com Wednesday.
"It's people who care for people. They have a track-record of sharing people's joys and sorrows that equally lead society," the Liberal Democratic Party presidium member said.
Talukdar has evaluated the immediate past BNP-led four-party coalition regime that he had served as state minister. "During five years' BNP misrule, I asked the then prime minister several times to take steps to reverse the decadent trend."
The former lawmaker from Jamalpur-4 constituency hit headlines as he stepped down from his ministerial chair protesting widespread corruption and irregularities everywhere.
Talukdar quit the BNP and joined hands with others to shape up the fledgling party, LDP.
In circumstances, he said, people's expectations soared high. "People would like to see democratic practices prevail and all leadership levels to be accountable and activities transparent."
He emphasised a total overhaul of the Election Commission, strengthening the Anticorruption Commission and reforms to the major political parties before the nation goes to the polls.
The BNP has moved worlds away from the ideals of former president Ziaur Rahman, Talukdar said.
"That party has slipped into a completely undemocratic culture. There was no scope for people to express their opinion—when they were with the party."
On Tarique Rahman's meddling in governance, he said state affairs had been run from two centres—one was the Prime Minister's Office and the other was Hawa Bhaban.
"The premier (Khaleda Zia) was a weak leader and that's why small successes achieved then could not trickle down to the grassroots," Talukdar said.
BNP crooks were instrumental in foiling all good efforts, including his, when he was in charge of the power ministry.
On the other hand, Talukdar said, the Awami League too had unleashed a "reign of terror and misrule" just before the immediate past BNP regime.
"The LDP is a neonate in politics and no nuisance would be tolerated here at all," he emphasised.
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