People's well-being comes before reform, polls: Debapriya
“Let us not lose the good in the pursuit of the best. We want to go to the highest level, but we cannot reach that place if we do not take into account the problems of the moment,” he also said
Ensuring people's well-being and comfort must come first, before reforms and elections, said Debapriya Bhattacharya, a prominent economist and head of the White Paper Committee.
"Reform is a grand dream and needs unity to pull it off. Elections must be held too. But before that, people's comfort must be ensured," he said while addressing the opening session of a two-day dialogue titled "Where is Unity Headed?" at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh Auditorium in Dhaka today (27 December).
"Don't lead reform-seeking people astray by not providing them with law and order, food and job security. Let us not lose the good in the pursuit of the best. We want to go to the highest level, but we cannot reach that place if we do not take into account the problems of the moment," he said.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
He called on authorities to ensure the human rights of all, including the backward communities, indigenous groups, Dalits, and those who live with the risk of losing homes to river erosion.
He also called to eliminate the division between different religious communities, genders, and identities.
"We must ensure that these people can live their lives, have livelihoods, and hold rallies. We need to build that kind of united Bangladesh. We have to agree on a basic level," he added.
He noted that while a lot of discussions are taking place about structural and administrative reforms, not much focus is being given to discussing the existing society and the country.
Meanwhile, also speaking at the event, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hossain said the stability of the state will decline if reforms are not done properly.
She expects that the youth population of the country will play a major role in that regard.
Constitution Reform Commission chief Ali Riz said the countrymen want an electoral system that ensures their voting rights.
"They want a system where accountability is ensured. But foremost, they do not want centralisation of power," he said.
