DEMOCRATIC RECONSTRUCTION: Institutional reforms stressed
Experts, policymakers and civil society representatives on Thursday emphasised institutional reforms for the democratic reconstruction of the country.
At a dialogue organised by the Centre for Governance Studies at the BIISS auditorium in the capital Dhaka, they expressed grave concerns over the weakening of institutions, including the constitutional bodies, and serious flaws in the appointment of key figures of the state system.
They also highlighted the necessity of a political consensus on ensuring effective governance.
‘Inefficient office bearers appointed by politically biased mechanisms or laws, including the Appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act 2022, destroyed our key institutions. One of the objectives of the student-mass uprising is to reform the institutions,’ said Badiul Alam Majumder, chief of the electoral reform commission.
Moderated by CGS executive director Zillur Rahman, the discussants also stressed the balance in state power to prevent autocracy in future.
Saying that the establishment of ombudsman was essential, former National Board of Revenue chairman Mohammad Abdul Mazid added that the appointment process for the constitutional institutions needed to be restructured.
‘A clear distinction between the influence of the state and the government must be drawn to ensure an unbiased appointment process,’ he said.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson’s adviser Zahir Uddin Swapan said that a lack of substance in the political discourse would hamper reforms in the constitutional bodies.
Lawyer Shihab Uddin Khan suggested that sensitive issues might necessitate referendums and stressed the need for an independent judiciary.
Journalist MA Aziz stressed the psychological aspect of reforms, recommending that reforms must not alienate political parties.
Citing the need for reform-driven public consciousness, political analyst Zahedur Rahman said that no political party would be able to resist reforms if there was public demand for it.
Ganosamhati Andolan chief coordinator Zonayed Saki said that systematic changes and a political consensus were essential for establishing democratic governance.
Dhaka University student Munmun Mahjabin said that merit-based appointments should replace politically influenced recruitment processes.
Another student of the Dhaka University, Muhammad Khalid Khan, said that the prevalence of administrative constraints and the financial dependence on ruling parties would discourage even skilled officials from working honestly.
CGS chairperson Munira Khan stressed the need for discussions on human rights, corruption prevention and the rule of law, beyond election-related matters, saying that the constitutional bodies must be accountable and transparent to the citizens.
Lawyer Subrata Chowdhury, Dhaka University’s public administration department teacher Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, East West University teacher Parvez Karim Abbasi, AB Party chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju and Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council member KS Mong, among others, also spoke in the dialogue.
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New Age | DEMOCRATIC RECONSTRUCTION: Institutional reforms stressed