[Thank you very much-by principles we must allow everybody to speak up with logic and reason--moderator]
SHUJAN– A CITIZENS' INITIATIVE FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE
Shujan – Shushanar Janniya Nagorik – made its debut in 2002 as an initiative of a group of concerned citizens of Bangladesh with the purpose of promoting democracy, decentralisation, electoral reforms, clean politics, and accountable governance. As a non-partisan pressure group, it provides an effective platform for people to discover their voices and be heard. Shujan has already achieved solid successes in its priority areas. Its initiatives were recently featured in the 26 December 2006 issue of Time magazine.
A Decentralised Network of Committed Citizens
Since its inception Shujan has mobilised thousands of citizens from all walks of life – citizens who are disenchanted with the present state of Bangladesh's politics and governance. In the process, it has become a large, decentralised network of committed individuals from the capital city down to the villages. Shujan is not an NGO supported by donors; rather, it is a volunteer-based movement in which citizens themselves invest both their time and money to carry forward its work.
A Relentless Voice for Reforms
Shujan has pioneered and championed a comprehensive package of reforms addressing the electoral process, the Election Commission and political parties. We have articulated these reform issues in popular newspaper articles, workshops, seminars and discussions across the country, and have staged many public events such as marches, human chains etc. With media support, Shujan has launched innovative activities throughout the country, such as "Election Olympiads," "Debates for Democracy," "Candidate Forums," and "Open Budget Meetings." As a result of these and similar initiatives, ideas for reforms and qualitative changes in Bangladesh's politics have caught the people's imagination and become popular demands. Shujan is now planning to hold "People's Dialogue" and "Concerts for Democracy" throughout the country.
A Champion for Local Democracy
Good governance requires taking government directly to the door steps of the people and creating opportunities for them to effectively participate in the decisions that affect their lives. Thus, Shujan is committed to giving power to the people through strong elected local bodies. Its volunteers have also been involved in mobilising elected leaders of Union Parishads with demands for pro-people, pro-women, decentralised governance.
Demystifying the Electoral Roll
Thanks to the work of Shujan and a few other organisations, preparing a reliable electoral roll has become the most urgent issue in Bangladesh today. As directed by the Bangladesh Supreme Court, the creation of an "Electoral Roll Database" is the most dependable and cost-effective way to manage updates on an ongoing basis. Shujan has completed the basic task of converting the existing electoral roll prepared in 2000 into an online database and thus created the template for an error-free electoral roll for the coming elections. The database incorporates a search protocol and potentially can allow continuous updates and elimination of duplicate names.
Creating Candidate Profiles
In addition to reforms, clean governance requires the nomination of honest and competent candidates by political parties and thereby offering meaningful choices to voters. It also requires the disclosure of candidates' antecedents in order to allow voters to make informed decisions in the polling booths. Shujan has not only become the strongest advocate for reforming the nomination process and disclosing candidates' backgrounds, it has also taken effective steps – including constructing a website and creating a volunteer network to distribute information about candidates among the voting public – in order to keep politicians honest and their activities transparent. We are in essence creating a repository of candidate profiles.
For further information, please contact Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary, SHUJAN at 8801 711 526626; email: badiulm@gmail.com.
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