No political democracy without economic democracy: Rehman Sobhan

Noted economist Rehman Sobhan has said disparity in society has increased and it is steadily rising.

“A small number of people are leading lives like that of developed countries while millions of workers are leading lives as in any other third world country. There is no one to call for budgetary allocations for these people or to listen,” the economist told a discussion on the budget in the capital on Wednesday.

The Trade Union Centre (TUC) organised this seminar, ‘Upcoming Budget: Expectations of the Workers and the People’, at the Jatiya Press Club.

“Political disparity will increase along with economic disparity. Political democracy won't exist unless economic democracy exists,” Rehman Sobhan said.

He said the democratic process would weaken further. Under the present government performance, the poverty may decrease, but disparity will widen, he added.

Referring to the apex body of the readymade garment manufacturing and export industry, BGMEA, Rehman Sobhan said the workers are divided while the owners remain united.

He pointed out that the readymade garment industrialists are now politically influential and many of them are members of parliament and ministers. The finance minister will certainly listen to them. So how will the workers deal with them, he asked.

Rehman Sobhan said there has been a finance minister in office for ten years and he held discussions with everyone.

He said, “He talked for everyone for ten years, but it is doubtful whether he listened to them at all.”

“I also joined this discussion and spoke out for the first couple of years, but then I gave up. The businessmen were given priority as they had political and social power. About 70 per cent of the members of parliament are businessmen. There is no longer any difference between politics and business now,” he said.

CPD distinguished fellow Mustafizur Rahman said the budget is not only a matter of income and expenditure but also distribution.

He said indirect tax is higher than direct tax in the country and the burden of tax is on the common people.

Mustafizur Rahman suggested increasing direct tax as the tax structure is discriminatory.

Presenting the keynote, professor of economics at Dhaka University, MM Akash, said the budget was made with the of the common people, but subsidies from the budget were given to the dishonest wealthy people.

TUC president Shahidullah Chowdhury and general secretary Wajedul Islam, among others, spoke in the event.