DHAKA, 6 April 2004 — A UN aid body yesterday criticized an attempt by Bangladesh’s main opposition party to unseat a democratically elected government through street protests.
The resident representative of the United Nations Development Program, Jorgen Lissner, said an anti-people, disruptive general strike could not be categorized as a democratic right of the people and called on Bangladeshis not to support the ouster of their democratically elected government by unconstitutional means.
Lissner was addressing a seminar titled “Parliamentary Oversight and Government Accountability in Bangladesh: The Role of the Standing Committees on Ministries”.
Lissner said under a democratic system, the only way to change a government was through elections.
The UN official said that a strike was justified against colonial rule and economic exploitation. But under a democratic system, shutdowns infringe on others’ rights.
He said a general strike disrupted people’s normal life. “It is not a democratic right of the people to obstruct public life by blocking roads, ports and traffic.”
Lissner said Bangladeshis wanted to see the present Parliament, constituted in 2001, as an effective one where members from both the treasury and opposition benches would play their roles.
Referring to the boycott of Parliament by the main opposition Awami League, Lissner said it was normal practice in any workplace to deduct the pay of absentees.
The 59 Awami League MPs have been boycotting Parliament since June last year but continue to draw their pay. The League has called for a two-day general strike across Bangladesh on April 7 and 8 as part of moves to unseat the Khaleda Zia government.
