Speakers at a seminar titled 'New Bangladesh: Establishing Welfare State Free from Discrimination' on Saturday said new Bangladesh should create an environment where verities of views will be tolerated and recruitments in all sectors will be fair and free from political biases.
Addressing the seminar, organised by Professor K Ali Foundation at the Akram Khan Hall at Jatiya Press Club (JPC), the speakers presented a roadmap to turn the 'fragile' country left by Sheikh Hasina on August 5 into a welfare state.
Dhaka University's Social Welfare and Research Prof Md Nurul Islam presented the keynote paper.
Prof Nurul Islam, at the beginning of his speech, drew the picture of the country which the fallen Awami League government left broken with corruption, unfair recruitments, suppression and injustices to the people opposing the past government in different sectors.
"The defeated Sheikh Hasina government, in guise of democracy, held three elections without voters, took away the people's resources and used the law enforcement agencies to suppress the opposition parties … On the one hand, they built a mountain of wealth and on the other, they exploited and oppressed the people."
The new Bangladesh must uphold the aspirations of the young generation and create adequate employments for them, said Prof Nurul Islam, adding, "A universal curriculum and impartial examination system must be introduced by scrapping the existing discriminatory examination system of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission so that qualified students get jobs through competitive tests."
He emphasised quality in education sector, rather distributing free books and constructing unplanned infrastructures.
"In the last 15 years, reports of intelligence agencies, family identities, political views and obedience of job seekers were prioritised in recruitments at all public universities including Dhaka University," he said.
The keynote speaker stressed the need for fair recruitment based on merit for sustainable development of the country.
He proposed application of the same recruitment system in all sectors including civil services, judiciary, law enforcement agencies and all independent state institutions.
Prof Nurul Islam said he was in favour of presidential government over cabinet ruled government and bicameral parliament for Bangladesh.
The country will be converted into a welfare state when equality of rights and opportunity, decentralisation of power and accountability at all levels are ensured.
Writer and social activist Farhad Mazhar spoke at the seminar as chief guest with Prof Sheikh Akram Ali in the chair.
Farhad Mazhar requested the interim government to involve people of all classes and professions into state reform.
Mazhar said, "You have not involved representatives of mass people in the government. We must remember that we are still in the Hasina's fascist system. We don't want reforms. We want a new Bangladesh, a new beginning. Everyone including labours and peasants will build the nation."
"Create opportunity for everyone to contribute in their own field," Mazhar said.
