Bangladeshi Head Closes Leaders Forum

The controversial Fakhruddin Ahmed, Chief Advisor of the Non-Party Caretaker Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, wrapped up the intensive week-long World Leaders Forum with a speech in the Rotunda of Low Library Friday.

In his half-hour address entitled “Bangladesh’s Socio-economic Development: Successes, Challenges, and Imperatives,” Ahmed expounded on a range of issues including economic growth, the elimination of corruption, and the long path to mitigation of the nation’s high levels of poverty.

“Bangladesh is, in many ways, a paradox that has baffled many a-pundit,” the Chief Advisor began. “Still poor in income, but rich in culture and ideas, this is a country where the old and the new, the traditional and the modern, play hide and seek with each other.”

Instigated in October of last year amid violent demonstrations by the country’s two main political parties—the Nationalist Party and the Awami League—the caretaker government now led by Ahmed has taken a harsh stance against political corruption. Its position increased in significance following the postponement of the January 2007 elections until next year­—a move made necessary after a 14-party alliance threatened to boycott the elections and the previous chief advisor, President Iajuddin Ahmed, who was driven to resign his post and declare a state of emergency.

“As a member of the Columbia community, it is very dismaying and shocking that Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed, the current autocratic ruler of Bangladesh, has been invited to deliver a speech at the World Leaders Forum,” Rubab Khan, CC ’08, said.

“As the head of the current administration, I am leading our efforts to hold free and fair elections and to achieve democratic consolidation,” Ahmed said. “We are focused on institution building, and a primary objective is to eradicate corruption and improve governance.”

Ahmed described the Bangladeshi system as “fundamentally corroded from within,” and alluded to previous Prime Ministers Khaleda Zia and Hasina Wazed, both of whom are currently facing corruption charges, when he referred to recent political leaders in Bangladesh as having “used the powers of political office to maximize their own interests.”

Yet some students resent his invitation. “Targeted repression of senior faculty members at major universities, top college students, and leading journalists by the military has been unabashedly condoned and hailed by Dr. Ahmed,” Khan said.

As well as speaking on the challenges and promises of stability presented by a newly renovated democratic system, Ahmed spent much of his speech addressing his country’s economic goals and its well-known problems with poverty. “Bangladesh takes due pride in being a world leader in poverty research and innovation,” Ahmed said. “Poverty is not just the absence of wealth. It is more fundamentally the lack of entitlement, in particular to the rights of livelihood, dignity, and credit.”

Current students, alumni, and other audience members lined the aisles behind two microphones to address the Chief Advisor on issues ranging from human trafficking to the recent reports of government crackdowns on protesting students and intellectuals.

“We talk about anti-corruption measures, we talk about poverty reduction,” he said, “but simultaneously, this government needs to govern.”

Sara Barbour can be reached at news@columbiaspectator.com.