TDS Desk

Debapriya Bhattacharya, head of the White Paper Preparation Committee, has underscored the need for discussion to address the challenges faced by the people amid the growing inflationary pressure.

“Reform is our big deal and we must proceed with elections based on national consensus, but the people must be relieved first,” Debapriya, distinguished fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), said while addressing a function in Dhaka on Friday.

He also urged the government to undertake measures to ensure livelihoods and jobs for the unemployed youth, without focusing on reform in the superstructure of the society.

Emphasising the need to ensure universal human rights for all, he said that a minimum guarantee for survival must be provided to those left behind in society, including victims of river erosion and ethnic and Dalit communities.

Discussions on administrative reform take place frequently, but there is little attention given to issues such as the wages of ready-made garment workers and the prices of farmers’ agricultural products, the hardship of the middle-income group and employment facilities for unemployed youth, said the country’s renowned economist.

“How can reforms be carried out if these issues are not addressed? What kind of superficial reform will we implement? True empowerment means ensuring livelihoods. I feel saddened when our leaders fail to pay attention to these critical issues,” he said.

The government’s reform efforts will go in vain if it fails to ensure people’s livelihoods and employment, he said, calling upon the incumbent management to focus on the problems that require immediate attention.