REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, NUSA DUA - The Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) should highlight the message that democracy and development need to work in harmony, Bangladesh Foreign Minister, Shahriar Alam, said.
"Justice and social equality, as part of inclusive development, should also be a goal of participatory democracy. The Bali Democracy Forum should declare this message to the masses," Alam stated on Saturday.
He added that to sustain democracy in a country, it must be driven by community participation.
"It is because there is no clear purpose for this type of development that is not owned by, designed by, or driven by the people themselves," he remarked.
Alam further noted that a democratic environment was important for strong and entrenched development, and that better development would create greater aspiration for democracy among the people.
"In Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina strongly believes that democracy and development must go hand in hand," he affirmed, adding that maintaining peace and stability were equally important for democracy and development to progress in a country.