We are starting to receive the first bits of media coverage for the CADB. Little Rock public radio released a story today on Change Bangladesh and the CADB project is mentioned as one of the prime efforts.
Click here to listen to the story and click here to read the story.
Little Rock, AR, February 21st, 2008 – Change Bangladesh is pleased to launch a global Campaign for Accountable Democracy in Bangladesh (CADB). The campaign will create a grassroots movement to compel the major political parties of Bangladesh to embrace and implement internal reforms towards democracy, accountability, zero tolerance for corruption and a law abiding political culture.CADB plans to create the grassroots movement through the following strategies:
The campaign for accountable democracy is being launched on historic February 21st, 2008 to mark the beginning of a new struggle. Just as February 21st, 1952 marked the beginning of the struggle for Bangladeshi nationalism, today marks a new struggle amongst all Bangladeshis to reclaim our nation and destiny from the slavery of corruption, political violence and kleptocracy.
Bangladesh today, is challenged with a rare opportunity to reform and rebuild its institutions of democracy, at the nucleus of which lies the political parties. Since there is no alternative to democratic governance, there is also no substitute to reforming the political parties for altruistic service to the teeming millions.
True democracy will not see the light of the day unless the politicians adhere to some fundamental rule of politics and governance.
• Practice intra-party Democracy: Hold regular elections for grassroots and top level party leadership positions. Introduce term limits for party officials. Highly committed bright youngsters should be identified for future leadership positions.
• Accountability: Elect, appoint and promote party leaders based on performance and meritocracy. Under performing party officials should be demoted or removed from party hierarchies.
• Zero Tolerance for Corruption: There should be zero tolerance for corruption and unethical practices. “Politics of looting” has shamed us worldwide.
• Adhering to the rule of law: Political parties’ modus operandi must at all times be strictly followed. Reconciliation must replace confrontation with either rival political parties or the government. Political parties must stop illegal hartal, political violence, and boycott of parliamentary sessions as instruments of defiance and disagreement on issues of difference and discrepancy.