MPs totally fail in their pledges to electorates

The essence of democracy lies in resolving the national issues through deliberations by the members of parliament as representatives of the people. But our MPs belonging to both position and opposition have totally failed in their pledges to the electorates.

The government easily passes bills because of its majority. The fact remains that the onus is on the government to ensure that the opposition is present in parliament.

But it cares little about the Westminster type democracy that we follow, which allows the opposition to play its role as a shadow government and oversee the government’s lapses.

And the opposition too bears the responsibility of playing its due role in the parliament through the cut and thrust on national issues.

Instead, it calls hartals unscrupulously, resorts to violence in order to make the government give in to its demand without discussion.

It, however, joins parliament to save membership and shamelessly avail itself of the privileges and perquisites. The democracy is thus debased.

Masuma Kawsir

Mirpur, Dhaka