14 POINTS PROPOSAL
SERAJUL ALAM KHAN
Geo-politically Bangladesh is in an advantageous position.
a) It is the 'Linkage' between South
Asia and South East Asia.
c) This 'geo-economic zone is rich
in skilled manpower, gas, oil, sweet water resources of the Bay of Bengal,
forestry, coal, hydro-electricity and other mineral resources etc.
d) It is not only a geo-economic but
also a geo-cultural entity.
e) Military-strategy wise this is a
door to the Indian Ocean.
f) Geo-physically, this region has
occupied an unique place for the last thousand years. Bangladesh with its
present position is in the focus and has become an attraction for everybody.
g) This has the potential to become
the centre for South Asian and South East Asian regions
h) This region may be treated as a
'sub regional economic zone' within the South Asian and South East Asian
regions. Keeping the independence and sovereignty of each country, four (4)
'sub-regional economic cooperation zones may be formed.
b) Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, India
(10 provinces of north-eastern India), Myanmar (southern) and China (Kunming)
constitute a powerful geo-economic zone
The Changed World
The cold war is over. The post cold
war situation is more complex. If we look around the developmental phases in
the last fifteen to twenty years, we will see the evidence of a tremendous
socio-economic and political change throughout the world.
In economic field, led by the United States and Great Britain, capitalism has come out of its age-old laissez-faire characteristics to pro-people capitalism, creating welfare states. On the other hand Russia and China have introduced socialist market economy giving impetus to individual initiatives. As a result of the blending of these two, the whole world economy has undergone a semi-revolutionary change in the societal level of all countries. The uncompromising rivalry between these two economies (capitalism and socialism) is now considered as synthesis for a new kind of economic growth, which is affecting in a positive way even the backward countries of Asia and Africa. This is termed as globalization.
In the world political scenario the international balance of power based on geo-politics, geo-economics and military strategy one super power (USA) has taken place instead of the two super powers- USA and USSR. At the same time these factors have given birth to some intermediary political as well as economic super-blocks, China, Iran, Brazil, EU, ASEAN, SAARC and CIS: On regional and sub-regional basis, these intermediary super blocks have amassed a strong political, economic and military power. Thus, we are witnessing a new kind of political polarization throughout the whole world. This polarization is mainly concerned about controlling the oil energy. It is not surprising that the future confrontation among the nations and blocks will be more on energy front than that of traditional battlefront.
In today's world, competition for acquiring land or industrial power is already replaced by the supremacy of media and internet. In near future, this battle of supremacy will be shifted to space supremacy. These shifts presuppose structural changes in national, regional, world governments and their attitudes.
The post second world war political scenario is changing to more cooperation based globalization with positive and negative effects. These positive affects are the unprecedented turn over in trade and commerce throughout the whole world. These affects are also seen in the shifting of intermediary technology as well as production units (line industry and agro based industry) from the economically developed countries to the developing countries. The negative affects, in the form of devaluation of currencies, are felt by some developing countries, thus we see an uneven balance of trade.
Even then, we observe a degree of welfare in the lives of common people of the developing countries with the aspirations of further development. As a result, people of every country and every nation are being divided and sub- divided into a kind of social differentiation and stratification. So, we see the formation of corporate bodies consisting of different kinds of professional occupational people with similar attitude and aspiration.
In the present world, Transport Economy (necessary connectivity) has become the gear of all developments. The South Asian & South East Asian region based of transport economy must be considered as the key to the development of this part of the world.
The world has witnessed different kinds of state hood in different period of history starting from independent principalities (primary agricultural) to kingships and nation-states. These political formations were the results of political role of the social forces born in the womb of their mother social formations.
Now the nation states along with globalization are giving birth to new social forces in the form of professional-occupational people en mass. So, we see a progressing phase of societal development is the ultimate result of knowledge based activities like IT. Nuclear Science, Genetic engineering. Environmental Science, Robotics, Military Science and Space Science.
These newly formed professional-occupational people has not only emerged as unified social force, but also recognized as major political force (nationally and internationally), superseding the political and geographical boundaries (limitations). This phenomenon in turn envisages new kind of national, regional and world governments.
Bangladesh Case
With the experience of the global
changes, Bangladesh is also changing very fast. Hence, a new kind of
structuring and restructuring is in the process: new professional-occupational
groups are working as social catalyst. This is being demonstrated internally
and externally through lifestyle, cultural diversity, and even social unrest.
Therefore, a new political structural change is just a matter of time. We need
a state mechanism that will absorb the will and the aspiration of the social
forcex through its representation in the political mechanism.
Geo-politically Bangladesh is in a very advantageous position. It is located at the center of South Asia with its surrounding countries India (ten provinces), Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and China have put it into a unique situation to steer up a process of economic advancement that would bring a large economic market within its hold. This potential can be properly and evenly developed for their respective economic and cultural growth by forming a sub regional economic zone. This zone will be the sole linkage between Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, India (ten provinces), Myanmar (southern) and China (Kunming). This 'geo-economic zone is not only a natural integrated zone but also geophysical and military strategy wise a source for regional empowerment in the world scenario.
First of all, the proposal is to form an eastern 'economic zone' comprised of Nepal, Bhutan, ten provinces of India (Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Megalaya, Assam, Tripura, Arunachal, Monipur, Nagaland, Mizoram). Bangladesh, Myanmar (south) and Kunming of China. If this zone comes into existence, a tremendous economic boost up along with political and military balance of power will take place.
In total 4 (four) 'economic zones' can be formed among the countries with Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and China, calling them western region, northern region, southern region and eastern region.
Likewise sub-regional northern economic, western economic and southern economic zones can play most important role for the best possible development of south Asia and south east Asia.
For Implementation of
'SUB-REGIONAL ECONOMIC ZONE'
1. High powered joint parliamentary
committee from 6 countries Nepal, Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, China and Myanmar
to be formed taking members with equal number from the respective parliament.
2. Under this joint parliamentary
committee the following committees taking expertise from the above mentioned 6
countries:
a. Committee for Industry and
Commerce.
b. Committee for Information and
Technology (IT).
c. Committee for Human Resources.
d. Committee for Sports and Culture.
e. Committee for Water, Energy and
Mineral Resources
f. Committee for Inland Water
Transport Authority
g. Committee for Disaster
Management.
h. Committee for Environment.
3. Evaluation committee for GDP of 6
countries.
4. Evaluation committee for
investment of overseas expatriates of 6 countries.
5. Evaluation committee for
coordination for Banking System of 6 countries.
6. Evaluation committee for
normalization of currency exchange of 6 countries.
7. Evaluation committee for proper
utilization of labor forces of 6 countries.
8. Evaluation committee for research
for development of 6 countries.
9. Evaluation committee for
normalization of internal communication of 6 countries.
10. Evaluation committee for
development of mass communication of 6 countries.
11. Evaluation committee for
connectivity (transport economy) among the six (6) viz Nepal, Bhutan, India,
Bangladesh, Myanmar & China.
14 Points
Proposal
regarding restructuring of
state mechanism and governance
1. Federal structure governance.
a. President is the constitutional
head of the country. b. Parliamentary form of government
c. Prime Minister will be the Chief
Executive and Head of Government.
d . Upazilla based local government.
e . There will be a Vice-president.
f . Bangladesh will be divided into
several provinces.
g. Ministry of Defense will remain
under control of the President.
2. A national Bi-cameral Parliament consisting of 'Upper House' and Lower House' should be formed
a. The 'Lower House' will be
constituted with 300 elected representatives from different territorial constituencies nominated by different political parties.
i. The professional-occupational
people elected on non-party basis.
ii. Members elected by the adult
women on non-party basis.
iii. Selected by the President from
bureaucrats, defense force and law enforcing agencies.
iv. Representatives from the Provincial
Assembly.
v. Proportional representation of
the political parties elected in the Lower House of the Parliament.
vi. The Vice-President will be the
Chairperson of the Upper House.
vii. The term of both the 'Upper House' and 'Lower House' will be three or four years.
viii.
Representatives to be elected by the ethnic national communities.
ix. 10 elected NRB (Non-Residential
Bangladeshi) members in the Upper House of Parliament.
3. A Government of 'national unity' from the members of the
Parliament
a. The Prime Minister will be from
the majority party,
b. The Deputy Prime Minister will be
from the next majority party.
c. The Council of the ministers will
be from the Upper House of the Parliament.
d. Introduction of Call Back system.
e. Confidence and no confidence
voting system will be introduced.
f. In case of any vacancy in the
Parliament due to death, the party concern will fill up the vacancy.
g. 15% of voters can take an
initiative for the enactment of a law.
4. Bangladesh should have 7 to 9 provinces
a. Every province should have
elected Provincial Assembly and Provincial Government".
b. Each Provincial Assembly' should
have maximum 150 elected members.
c. In each Provincial Assembly,
there should be a sevem (7) member council of the ministers including the Chief
Minister.
d. Ethnic nationalities will have a
province.
e. 10-member representatives from
each province will be in the Upper House.
f. Self-local government will be
based on Upazilla level with representatives from professional-occupational
groups.
5. The President will form the non-party caretaker
government from the members of "Upper House'
a. The caretaker government will be
constituted from the Upper House
b. The caretaker government will
hold the election of the Parliament, Provincial Assembly, Zilla Council,
Pourashava, Metropolitan Government and City Corporations.
c. Metropolitan Governments will be
under direct supervision of central government. Metropolitan Governments will
have representation in the Upper House.
d. The non-residential Bangladeshıs
(NRB) should have the right to vote. There will be at least ten (10)
representatives elected by the NRBs in the 'Upper House'.
6. Independent election commission
a. Election Commission should be a
separate and independent body.
b. The Election Commission will have
separate secretariat.
c. The Election Commission will be
extended upto the Union level.
7. Election of the President
a. The President should be
non-partisan.
b. The political parties will
nominate the Presidential candidates who are non-partisan.
c. Members of the "Lower
House', 'Upper House and provincial assemblies will be the electoral members
(voter) for the presidential election.
d. The Vice-President will be
non-partisan to be elected by the Upper House and Lower House on the basis of
national unity.
e. The Vice-President will be the
Chairperson of the Upper House.
8. Parliamentary Committee
a. A high powered parliamentary
committee will be formed from the members of the 'Upper House' and 'Lower House’.
b. This Parliamentary Committee will
have more executive power.
c. Appointment of the council of the
ministers has to be approved by this ‘Parliamentary Committee’.
d. Nomination of the ambassadors,
High Commissioners of Bangladesh has to be approved by this ‘Parliamentary
Committee’.
e. This Parliamentary Committee'
will approve the appointment of the judges of the Supreme Court High Court,
Anti-corruption Commission, Public Service Commission (PSC), National Audit
Committee, Secretaries of Government. Election Commission and Parliament standing
committees.
f. This ‘Parliamentary Committee'
can summon any citizen of the country except the President.
9. National Security Council (NSC)
a. A 'National Security Council'
(NSC) should be formed under the supervision of the President.
b. The ‘National Security Council’
(NSC) will consist of
i. The Vice-President, Prime
Minister and Deputy Prime Minister
ii. Minister of Defense and Minister
of Home Affairs
iii. Chiefs of the army, naval and
air force.
iv. Chiefs of the Police, Border
Guards of Bangladesh (BGB), ANSAR and VDP.
v. Chiefs of the national
intelligence agencies.
vi. A specialist on constitutional
matter
vii. A specialist on Law and
Judiciary.
viii. A political scientist of
international stature.
ix. A specialist on Political
technology.
10. The Constitutional Court
a. A 7-member constitutional court
to be established under the supervision of the Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court.
b. Six other constitutional experts
(may be retired judges) will be the members of this committee
c. Regarding any constitutional
confusion, decision of the Constitutional Court will be considered as final and
binding.
d. In any matter, relating to
Election, Constitutional Court should be regarded as the supreme authority.
11. The National Economic Council (NEC)
a. There will be national economic
council (NEC) of 900 members from the trade unions and
professional-occupational associations.
b. NEC will forward proposals
regarding annual budget to the parliament
c. NEC will bring forth any proposal
regarding national economic development.
d. NEC will discuss any logical
probability regarding foreign investment.
12. A judicial council
a. A permanent judicial council
should be established in order to give the judiciary system more independent
and autonomous status.
b. The chief justice of the Supreme
Court will be the overseer of this judicial council.
c. Judiciary should be separate and
independent.
d. High Courts at Provincial level
should be established.
e. The judiciary system will be
established and extended upto Upazilla level.
f. A permanent high court bench on
matters of Human Rights should be set up.
13. A sub-regional economic zone under the SAARC
a. A sub-regional economic zone
under the SAARC must be formed comprising Nepal, Bhutan, ten states of India,
Bangladesh, Myanmar (South) and Kunming province of China.
b. Four economic zones may be
established within this south Asian region.
14. A 8-10 year program for economic development
a. Micro-credit program should be
ensured for all poor men and women.
b. For the development of
agriculture sector, modern agricultural technology will be introduced. Since
the demand of the modern age is to develop agro-food industry, proper
importance would be given to the development of agricultural production.
Agriculture loan will be provided to the marginal cultivators for the
cultivation of seasonal crops.
c. In every Upazilla and Pourashava
there should be at least one Upazilla Industrial and Pourashava Industrial
Zone. Non Residential Bangladeshi (NRB) investment can be mobilized in this
respect. Assuming, that each NRB can invest Taka 1/2 crore (two to three
hundred thousand dollars), a sum of Taka 4,50,000.00 (Four lac Fifty Thousand)
crores can be invested by the NRBs. It is assumed that 2,00,000 (two hundred thousand)
NRBs will be available in this gigantic economic activities. Forward and
backward linkage enterprises will be added to this above mentioned amount. Thus
4/5 core new employment opportunities will be generated through this mega-plan.
d. To build a proper infrastructure
for the sub-economic zone, the first step is to build mega-seaport and
super-highway network throughout the whole religion. Metro-rail and mono-rail
will be constructed on an urgent basis in Dhaka and Chittagong metro cities.
Age old riverine transportation system will be re-shaped and re-organized to
connect the whole of Bangladesh through internal river ports. Mega-size
airports will be constructed as a hub of air transportation in this region.
e. Joint venture and PPP
(private-public-partnership) investment will be encouraged for the
infrastructural development in the field of energy. Telecommunication, IT,
renewable energy sector etc.
f. The concept of 'Social Business'
will be considered and encouraged as an alternative role to that of
multinaitonal companies.
g. By 2020 Bangladesh should be
modeled into an IT & Technology oriented country, which we may term as
'digital Bangladesh'.
h. The lowest of the lowest earning
man woman will be ensured with a minimum income of US $ 2000 (Two lacs taka) in
a year.
About The Author
Serajul Alam Khan, a political
theorist and the founder of Nucleus (1962) that spearheaded the war of
independence, has put forward a 14-point proposal for adjustments of governance
to keep up with the changing national and international situation. He has
suggested establishment of Upazilla based 'Industrial Zones' funded by the
expatriate Bangladeshi community. These proposals came as an open letter' in
Bangla in March 2000 addressed to all po poltical parties, bureaucrats,
professional communities, intellectuals, NGOs, and leaders of different social
organizations. In 1962 Serajul Alam Khan, along with Abdur Razzak and Kazi Aref
Ahmed, spread the network of Nucleus and formed Bangladesh Liberation Force (BLF)
& Joi Bangla Bahini. During 1969-70, the BLF worked as the political wing,
and 'Joi Bangla Bahini' worked as the armed wing of the Nucleus. Later on, in
1971, on request from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the BLF high command
was reconstituted with Serajul Alam Khan, Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni, Abdur Razzak,
and Tofail Ahmed. BLF was renamed as 'Mujib Bahini' in India during the 9-month
armed struggle for the liberation of Bangladesh from the Pakistan army. While
Nucleus secretly started working for the independence of Bangladesh, it planned
and organized mass movements through the historic 6-point and 11-point
programmes, made the flag of Bangladesh, wrote and published the declaration of
independence', and worked out its modalities. Then, on 2nd March 1971, Nucleus
hoisted the flag of Bangladesh: needless to say the flag was the creation by
Nucleus. On 3rd March 1971, under the supervision of Nucleus, the 'declaration
of independence' was made public. Nucleus also selected amar sonar bangla. as
our national anthem, and coined the slogan 'Joi Bangla' as the theme of
independence. The Nucleus and BLF leadership helped Bangabandhu to prepare the
historic 7th March speech along with accompanying words, this is our struggle
for emancipation, this is the struggle for independence." The BLF also
organized the non- cooperation movement and parallel civil administration from
7th March 1971. Serajul Alam Khan, from an activist and a planner of movements,
turned into a political theorist using his vast practical experience. In his
theoretical endeavor, he collaborated with the prominent political scientist
Prof. Zillur Rahman Khan, ex-chair and Rosebush Professor in the University of
Wisconsin, Oshkosh, USA. Professor Khan proved to be his best intellectual
compatriot since 1980. Both the 'Khans' are still working and researching
together on the theoretical aspects of politics of our country. In preparing
the economic development model for Bangladesh, Serajul Alam Khan found
Professor Razia Ahmed & Professor Mohiuddin Ahmed Bulbul (researcher and
writer) as his fellow thinker. As a political prisoner on three different
occasions, Serajul Alam Khan had undergone almost seven years of imprisonment
and experienced a long underground life. In Bangladesh, Serajul Alam Khan is
generally known as the Architect of Bangladesh Independence Movement.
Serajul Alam Khan served as a professor (adjunct) of political science in the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, USA in 1997.
Shakawat Hossain
Publisher
February, 2012
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