Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman has identified political powers and bureaucracy as the main resistance force that has derailed most of the reform initiatives of the interim government.
“The graft reform move confined to Anti-Corruption Commission only and only three proposals with regard to this have so far been implemented,” Dr Iftekharuzzam told a dialogue of Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh held in Dhaka on Sunday.
“The key resisting forces behind this were political and bureaucratic powers that have not taken lesson from the July uprising. Eve, civil society, mass media and businessmen have some stake here,” he said, adding that at least 10 ordinances were resisted by the bureaucrats.
“We want to come out of authoritarianism but we don’t want to shun authoritarian practices,” he commented.
According to him, without accountability even full independence for the Anti-Corruption Commission won’t yield any result towards a graft-free society.
“The motivation for reforms which was shown at the very outset of the interim government has have eventually faded out,” said Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, convener of the Citizen’s Platform.
He argued that the reform initiatives lacked transparency, publicity and communication, and coordination between the stakeholders. “The interim government has no political manifesto even though there were some efforts to engage civil society.”
Prof Mustafizur Rahman, distinguished fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) pointed out that the country won’t make any headway, if good governance is not established here.
He mentioned that many reforms had been done earlier like the formation of the ACC or the strengthening of the Election Commission, but at the end of the day all of those institutions were captured by the government.
Shipping and Labour and Employment Adviser Brig Gen (Retd) Shakawat Hossain admitted that the reform agenda could not meet the expectations, but said political will of the next government will be very important to sustain what has so far been achieved.
He repented that although there was a huge expectation from the interim government for a national election, now the country is heading towards a “selection.”
However, he claimed that they have been able to amend the labour law nearly close to the international standard which will be helpful for not only protecting the workers rights but also attracting foreign investment.
While speaking about the link between the money and politics, the adviser noted that in the recent parliements around 60-65 percent MPs were businessmen. “So, how many politicians do you expect will become ministers?” he also criticised the Election Commission’s move to lift the provision for ‘No Vote.’
Addressing the event, noted economist Prof Rehman Sobhan said reforms are all about implemented and it makes no sense if those can’t be implemented.
Citing example from the first caretaker government in Bangladesh, he said that government had many limitations and time constraints but it did a very good job because it had a “good intension” which is the key.
Editor of the Daily New Age Nurul Kabir alleged that the nation is passing through a “confusing time” as many settled and well-known issues with regard to the Liberation War in 1971 are being deliberately distorted.