CPD concerned at tendency to question healthy debate

The board observed that such tendency threatens freedom of speech and democratic practice, undermining the country's image as a tolerant democracy with a vibrant civil society.

The board also unanimously reiterated its support for CPD's involvement in pre-election activities, which are fully consistent with its institutional mandate.

It noted with regret the public controversy initiated by the unsubstantiated and slanderous remarks made by the Board of Investment (BoI) executive chairman questioning the integrity of CPD as an organisation, and the personal vilification directed at the executive director of CPD.

The board expressed its shock that an issue related to data and their interpretation, which should have been addressed through professional discussion, invoked such highly offensive public remarks directed at CPD by a person holding positions of public responsibility, said a press release issued by the CPD.

The CPD board deemed it no less unfortunate that the BoI executive chairman should have moved the courts to seek arrest of five CPD board members, on an unsubstantiated allegation of slander which was publicly and formally denied by the CPD.

CPD Chairman Prof Rehman Sobhan presided over the meeting held at the CPD dialogue room in the city.

CPD trustees Prof Muhammad Yunus, managing director of Grameen Bank, Fazle Hasan Abed, chairperson of Brac, Dr Anisuzzaman, former professor of Bangla, Dhaka University, Khushi Kabir, coordinator of Nijera Kori, M Syeduzzaman, chairman of Bank Asia, Laila Rahman Kabir, managing director of Kedarpur Tea Company, Syed Manzur Elahi, chairman of Apex Tannery, Nurul Haq, former member of Planning Commission, and Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, executive director of CPD, attended the meeting.

Anisatul Fatema Yousuf, additional director and head of dialogue and communication division of CPD, attended the meeting on invitation.

The board noted with appreciation that CPD is carrying out intensive research, dialogue and publication programmes under its approved work plan for 2006.

It also recorded with deep appreciation that the executive director of CPD and his team are tirelessly carrying out their work under the mandated programmes of the organisation.

The board wishes to put on record unanimously that the CPD has, since its establishment over more than a decade ago, pioneered the tradition of open and inclusive public discussion and policy-oriented research. These dialogues and research have contributed directly to the good governance and development process of the country, it said.

The board hopes that any disagreements with the findings and analysis of research work sponsored by the CPD should be addressed professionally through evidence-based dialogue for which CPD will continue to provide a public forum.