Sustainable peace depends on tolerance: Experts

Though peaceful political programmes both by the ruling Awami League and out-of-parliament opposition BNP on January 5 have brought some sort of relief in public mind, political analysts think sustainable peace depends on tolerance, reports UNB.
They said peace will remain elusive if the two political camps fail to move ahead with positive politics with BNP correcting its course by learning from its mistakes and the ruling party ‘providing space’ to its opponents.
Country’s prominent intellectual and Professor Emeritus of Dhaka University Dr Anisuzzaman said, “It seems the country’s political situation has improved following a peaceful rally of the two parties in the city on January 5. I think practicing tolerance by all sides is now the only way to sustain it.”
Another Professor Emeritus of the university, Dr Serajul Islam Chowdhury, said maintaining peaceful politics in the country now mainly depends on the government’s role and actions.
“The government, alongside protecting its power, must allow opposition to carry out their political activities and exercise their democratic rights so that they can reach people to express their views and thoughts. But, the opposition will have to use this political space judiciously.”
Mentioning that opposition is now in a weaker position as they are neither in power nor in parliament, he said if the government now does not allow the opposition to hold rallies and other programmes then democracy will not exist. “Multiparty democracy is the best way, but we now need at least two-party democracy.”
Dhaka University’s ex-VC Prof Emajuddin Ahmed said political stability in the country depends on the goodwill of the two parties.  “Both Awami League and BNP should play a positive and responsible role.
Their leaders should shun making provocative remarks against each other to maintain peace and a democratic atmosphere.”
Emajuddin also urged the intellectuals to play a positive role by giving political parties good suggestions through their columns and articles to encourage them to exercise democratic principles.
Former caretaker government adviser M Hafizuddin Khan said the peaceful programmes of the two major parties in the city indicated a positive change in politics.

Sustainable peace depends on tolerance: Experts

Though peaceful political programmes both by the ruling Awami League and out-of-parliament opposition BNP on January 5 have brought some sort of relief in public mind, political analysts think sustainable peace depends on tolerance, reports UNB. They said peace will remain elusive if the two political camps fail to move ahead with positive politics with BNP correcting its course by learning from its mistakes and the ruling party providing space to its opponents. Countrys prominent intellectual and Professor Emeritus of Dhaka University Dr Anisuzzaman said, It seems the countrys political situation has improved following a peaceful rally of the two parties in the city on January 5. I think practicing tolerance by all sides is now the only way to sustain it. Another Professor Emeritus of the university, Dr Serajul Islam Chowdhury, said maintaining peaceful politics in the country now mainly depends on the governments role and actions. The government, alongside protecting its power, must allow opposition to carry out their political activities and exercise their democratic rights so that they can reach people to express their views and thoughts. But, the opposition will have to use this political space judiciously. Mentioning that opposition is now in a weaker position as they are neither in power nor in parliament, he said if the government now does not allow the opposition to hold rallies and other programmes then democracy will not exist. Multiparty democracy is the best way, but we now need at least two-party democracy. Dhaka Universitys ex-VC Prof Emajuddin Ahmed said political stability in the country depends on the goodwill of the two parties. Both Awami League and BNP should play a positive and responsible role. Their leaders should shun making provocative remarks against each other to maintain peace and a democratic atmosphere. Emajuddin also urged the intellectuals to play a positive role by giving political parties good suggestions through their columns and articles to encourage them to exercise democratic principles. Former caretaker government adviser M Hafizuddin Khan said the peaceful programmes of the two major parties in the city indicated a positive change in politics.