Elections are necessary, but not without reforms: Akhtar

Elections are certainly necessary, but not without state reform activities, said Akhtar Hossain, member secretary of the National Citizens Party (NCP).

He spoke at a discussion titled ‘Democratic Transformation: Fundamental Reforms and Elections’ at the National Press Club on Tuesday (May 27).

The NCP member secretary said there is no need to pit reforms and elections against each other. Elections are necessary, but not without reforms.

He said that in Bangladesh, the power currently given to the Prime Minister allows a prime minister to become a dictator within the constitutional process.

Akhtar Hossain said that if those who form the government appoint judges, ACC directors and heads of constitutional institutions according to their whims; then those institutions will not be able to work for the purpose for which they were established.

Calling for clarification of the responsibility of Jamaat in 1971, he said that the right of an individual to justice has been established through the release of ATM Azhar.

Akhtar said that there will be differences of opinion among political parties, but all political parties must agree on the issue of fundamental reforms.