Consensus essential to reach a rational point on reforms: Asaduzzaman

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman today said the government wants to move forward and needs everyone's cooperation to reach a rational point on reforms.

"The government is taking constructive criticism positively. Citizens have the right to criticise the government, and it is the government's constitutional responsibility to ensure this right. Political parties will carry out their programmes and criticise the government - this is a normal part of a democratic system," he said.

The minister made the remarks while addressing a discussion titled "Beyond the Ballot: Between Promise and Performance" organized by Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) at CIRDAP Auditorium in the capital.

Md Asaduzzaman said a culture needs to be developed in society where people can speak without fear. Efforts are being made to move away from the past practice of harassing or arresting writers, journalists, cartoonists and people from different walks of life for expressing their opinions.

"Government does not consider any issue relating to laws and policies as final or unchangeable. If it is found after implementation that any law needs amendment, the government will remain open to making necessary changes. Laws are enacted to meet people's needs and can be amended according to those needs," he added.

Regarding the Human Rights Commission Act and the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Act, he said extensive consultations and scrutiny had been carried out in drafting these laws.

The law minister further said consideration had been given to distinguishing between enforced disappearance as an ordinary crime and as a widespread and systematic crime while determining judicial jurisdiction. At the same time, efforts had been made to put in place effective mechanisms for investigating allegations of human rights violations and ensuring accountability.

The event was chaired by Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) President Zillur Rahman. Prime Minister's Political Adviser Zahir Uddin Swapon, Gono Forum President Subrata Chowdhury, Jatiya Party (JP) Secretary General Barrister Shamim Haider Patwary and senior journalist Sohrab Hassan, among others, spoke at the event.

Representatives of different political parties, civil society, human rights organisations, media and the legal profession also took part in the discussion.

The discussion focused on the implementation of political parties' electoral pledges after the election, people's expectations, political accountability, good governance, making democratic institutions more effective and various aspects of state reform.