'Professionals must speak out against partisan appointments': National Professionals Alliance (NPA) convener

National Professionals Alliance (NPA) Convener Navid Nowroz Shah on Saturday accused the government of prioritising partisan appointments over competence and urged professionals to speak out against the practice.

“The professionals joined the July Mass Uprising with the dream of establishing a merit-based state and society. But the current government is appointing party leaders in every sector while disregarding competence,” Shah said. “The professional community must raise its voice against this.”

He made the remarks at a programme titled “July Awakening of the Professional Community”, organised by the NPA at the Abdus Salam Hall of the National Press Club in Dhaka to commemorate those killed during the July uprising.

NCP Member Secretary and lawmaker Akhtar Hossain, who attended as chief guest, said professionals must play a greater role in national development and governance.

“United participation by professionals is the demand of the time to achieve national development, establish good governance, create employment, ensure a corruption-free administration and meet people's expectations,” he said.

Akhtar also called for greater coordination and cooperation among people from different professions and sections of society to advance the national interest.

Speakers at the event described the July uprising as a milestone in Bangladesh's struggle for people's rights, justice and a state free from discrimination. They said professionals should help build an efficient, accountable, humane and welfare-oriented state while carrying forward the aspirations of those killed in the uprising.

NPA Member Secretary Touhid Hossain, Senior Joint Convener Abdullah Al Faisal and NCP Central Member Salauddin Jamil Saurav were among those who addressed the gathering.

The event was also attended by National Ulema Alliance Convener Maulana Ashraf Mahdi, Jatiya Sramik Shakti Joint Convener Ahmed Ishaq and NCP Central Member Yasir Arafat, alongside representatives from the medical, engineering, education, legal, media, business, development and information technology sectors.

The programme was chaired by Shah and moderated by M G Azam Julian and Md Shafiul Alam Nazir.

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