[🇧🇩] Reforms carried out by the interim/future Govts.

[Saif]

Public admin reforms: Cluster system may be proposed for ministries

The Public Administration Reform Commission is likely to recommend reducing the number of ministries and divisions to 30 from 55 to improve coordination and slash the government’s operational cost.

www.thedailystar.net

Public admin reforms: Cluster system may be proposed for ministries
Commission likely to suggest reducing number of ministries, divs to 30 from 55

The Public Administration Reform Commission is likely to recommend reducing the number of ministries and divisions to 30 from 55 to improve coordination and slash the government's operational cost.

It may also propose allowing political appointments for personal secretaries (PS) to the prime minister, ministers, the Speaker, and other senior policymakers in the government.

Led by Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, the reform commission is deliberating whether to suggest the introduction of clusters of ministries and designating officials of certain cadres to a particular cluster.

Besides, proposals to divide the country into four administrative provinces and upgrading the standard of Bangladesh Civil Service exam questions are expected, said sources with knowledge of the matter.

The commission is expected to submit its recommendations on January 31 with a view to building a pro-people, accountable, skilled, and neutral public administration.

CLUSTER SYSTEM

The reform commission is planning to recommend five or six clusters of ministries and divisions where officers of certain cadres would be working, said the sources.


For example, a cluster focused on food security may include ministries like agriculture, food, environment, fisheries and livestock, and disaster management.

Officers appointed to these ministries would rotate and work across these ministries and departments, they added.

Sources in the public administration ministry said a similar cluster system was recommended by the last reform commission in 2000, and a draft policy for activities of the clusters was also prepared in 2013.

However, some influential officials from the admin cadre prevented its implementation, the sources claimed.

"If the cluster system is introduced, admin cadre officers will no longer have the same level of control over various ministries as they have now. This is why the system was not implemented," said an official from the cabinet division.

FEWER MINISTRIES, DIVISIONS

The reform commission is considering a proposal to bring down the number of ministries and divisions to 30. It could be even between 25 and 28, said a source.

If approved, this will bring down the operational cost and help coordination, the source said.

Currently, the government has 55 ministries and divisions. The interim government has already decided to merge two divisions at the home ministry.

Several officials said they believe it could be a good move since some ministries and divisions do not have much workload and could be merged.

Asked about the possible impact of this, public administration expert Firoz Mia told this newspaper, "If experienced politicians and a skilled bureaucracy work together, cutting down the number of ministries would not be a problem.

"However, under the current circumstances, it may disrupt public services."

He added that introducing such changes would first require forming a team of skilled individuals.

PROMOTION TO DS

The reform commission is considering a new promotion policy for the position of deputy secretary -- a 50:50 split between the admin and the other cadres.

Currently, 75 percent of the promotions are made from admin cadre officers and the remaining 25 percent from the other cadres.

This notion elicited a strong reaction from the administration cadre officers. Many of them are lobbying intensely to have the proposal changed.

Sources in the commission said most of the members support a merit-based, 100 percent exam-driven promotion system for the position of deputy secretary. The exams would be open to officers from all cadres.

However, the commission chairman was in favour of keeping 50 percent of the spots for admin cadre officials, the sources said.

APPOINTMENTS OF PS

Officials from the administration cadre are generally appointed as the PS to government high-ups. However, when governments change, they often face setbacks, including delays in promotions or being made officers on special duty (OSD), considered a punishment, said sources.

Last month, a BNP committee on public administration reforms, formed to come up with the party's stance before the commission, proposed appointing non-civil servants as PS to ministers.

The committee submitted the report to the reform commission on December 9.

Ismail Zabiullah, a member of the committee, said many officers who serve as PS to ministers are competent but often get accused of becoming biased towards a party.

"Therefore, we have proposed appointing officers from outside the cadres for these positions," said Ismail, also a former secretary.

The Daily Star contacted the reform commission chief and four other members, but they declined to comment.

FOUR PROVINCES

The commission may propose dividing the country into four administrative provinces. The commission's chairman verbally communicated this proposal to the government, but details could not be known, sources said.

The provinces -- Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, and Khulna -- could be made out of a broader strategy to ensure decentralisation, the sources said.

The commission members believe the current local government system is not functioning effectively. To bring about fundamental changes to local governance, the provincial system would be good, they said.

CHANGES IN BCS EXAMS

The reform commission is set to suggest significant changes to the BCS exam questions.

According to sources, the commission views that the standard of the questions is not at a satisfactory level. "The standard is at the SSC-level. It has to be upgraded," said an official involved with the commission.

Sources said measures would be taken so that candidates totally relying on guidebooks don't get the coveted jobs.

EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION

The commission is thinking whether to allow government employees to form associations. This issue was discussed at one of the commission's meetings, but no decision has been made so far.

Some commission members think the employees can form associations for their welfare only.

However, other members think that the association could evolve into something resembling a CBA (Collective Bargaining Agent).

A decision on the matter will be made soon, said an official.​

 

[Saif]

6 commissions discuss reform road map

Six reform commissions on Friday began discussing short and long-term strategies to develop a roadmap for implementing their recommendations.

www.newagebd.net

6 commissions discuss reform road map
Staff Correspondent 25 January, 2025, 00:15

Six reform commissions on Friday began discussing short and long-term strategies to develop a roadmap for implementing their recommendations.

The interim government formed 11 reform commissions in two phases after assuming power on August 8 last year with these six commissions were formed in the first phase.

Of the commissions, four— the ones on constitution, electoral system, police and Anti-Corruption Commission—submitted their recommendations on January 15. The public administration reform commission and judiciary reform commission are expected to publish summaries of their recommendations by January31.

These six commissions are also set to comprise the National Consensus Commission led by the chief adviser professor Muhammad Yunus.

The aim of the consensus commission will be to conduct dialogues with political parties regarding the implementation of the reform proposals.

Friday’s meeting of the commission was held at the constitution reform commission office on the Jatiya Sangsad premises.

‘We are analysing the reform proposals already submitted, seeking clarity where needed and determining how best and when to implement them,’ said Professor Ali Riaz, chief of the constitution reform commission and vice-chair of the National Consensus Commission.

Professor Riaz chaired the meeting, which was attended by electoral reform commission chief Badiul Alam Majumder, police reform commission chief Safar Raj Hossain, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) reform commission chief Iftekharuzzaman and judiciary reform commission member Justice Emdadul Haque.

As an initial step in building consensus on the reform proposals, they met at the same venue on Monday. Like the Monday meeting, no representative from the public administration reform commission was present on Friday.

The interim government granted the initially formed six reform commissions an extension until February 15 to finalise their recommendations.

‘With the extended deadline, we are now coordinating the recommendations and identifying which can be implemented immediately and which require long-term planning,’ Professor Riaz said, citing a recent ordinance on the appointment of the Supreme Court judges as an example of a short-term step in implementing the reform proposals.

On Tuesday, law adviser Asif Nazrul disclosed the ordinance, which includes provisions for an independent council for appointing judges to the Supreme Court, the introduction of a separate secretariat for the judiciary and a permanent attorney service.

The ordinance aligns with the recommendations made by the constitution reform commission, Professor Riaz noted.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh must seize opportunities for growth through strategic reforms: Report

With strong leadership and strategic planning, Bangladesh can turn challenges into opportunities, fostering a prosperous, equitable, and resilient nation for current and future generations, according to a new report on Thursday. The use of digital and AI technologies, along with the establishment

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Bangladesh must seize opportunities for growth through strategic reforms: Report
UNB
Published :
Jan 30, 2025 22:41
Updated :
Jan 30, 2025 22:41

With strong leadership and strategic planning, Bangladesh can turn challenges into opportunities, fostering a prosperous, equitable, and resilient nation for current and future generations, according to a new report on Thursday.

The use of digital and AI technologies, along with the establishment of institutions promoting excellence and regulatory reform, will enhance Bangladesh's competitive position globally, it said.

Education and Planning Adviser Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud handed over the report of a task force named "Re-strategising the Economy and Mobilising Resources for Equitable and Sustainable Development" to the Chief Adviser.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus received the report from Dr Wahiduddin at the Chief Adviser's Office in Tejgaon, said CA's press wing.

The 12-member task force was formed on September 10 to reframe the development strategies, find out leakages in the financial system, and restore discipline in project implementation, said CA's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder.

According to the report, the actions and recommendations presented serve as an initial roadmap for economic reform, embodying a vision for a transformed Bangladesh that is responsive to its people's needs.

By prioritizing impactful projects in healthcare, education, and governance, the interim government can restore trust in public institutions and create momentum for sustained progress, it mentioned.

Pilot projects will provide valuable insights, enabling iterative improvements and broader implementation in future reforms.

Ultimately, these recommendations call for a shared responsibility between government officials and citizens to build a better future, said the report in its conclusion.

The proposed recommendations outline a strategic framework to guide the interim government of Bangladesh in addressing pressing challenges and facilitating economic growth, social development, and environmental sustainability.

Considering public service inefficiencies and environmental concerns, there is a critical need for targeted interventions that can create lasting change.

The focus on pilot projects aims to develop scalable models for broader reforms in the future, signaling the government's commitment to urgent economic transformations.

By fostering collaboration with citizens and youth groups, these initiatives will enhance transparency and accountability, contributing to a more inclusive environment.

In summary, the recommendations are designed to act as a catalyst for meaningful change, laying the groundwork for a resilient and progressive society while addressing pressing issues affecting the daily lives of citizens.​

 

[Saif]

Govt wants to lay foundation of radical reforms to state structure: Nahid

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md Nahid Islam on Thursday said they wanted to lay the foundation of drastic reform in the state structure to eliminate fascism from the country forever. “We want to lay the foundation of radical reforms to the state structure for complete elimination of

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Govt wants to lay foundation of radical reforms to state structure: Nahid
BSS
Published :
Jan 30, 2025 19:51
Updated :
Jan 30, 2025 19:51

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md Nahid Islam on Thursday said they wanted to lay the foundation of drastic reform in the state structure to eliminate fascism from the country forever.

“We want to lay the foundation of radical reforms to the state structure for complete elimination of fascism. If the existing structure remains, there will always be a chance of reemergence of the fascism,” he said.

He was addressing a function of handing over cheques of donation among the families of the journalists martyred and injured during July uprising, sick and insolvent media personnel and cheques of stipends for their children.

Bangladesh Sanbadik Kallayan Trust organised the programme at its Circuit House Road office here today.

Nahid, also Chairman of the trust, said they want to say goodbye to any chance of rebirth of the fascism in the country.

“So, state reform is very crucial. But, it will take time,” he said, adding that “whoever comes to power next would work based on that basic principle.”​

 

[Saif]

Likely reform proposal: Govt officials may be able to retire after 15yrs

For government employees, voluntary retirement with pension benefits currently requires 25 years of service. The Public Administration Reform Commission is set to recommend lowering the requirement to 15 years.

www.thedailystar.net

Likely reform proposal: Govt officials may be able to retire after 15yrs

For government employees, voluntary retirement with pension benefits currently requires 25 years of service. The Public Administration Reform Commission is set to recommend lowering the requirement to 15 years.

The commission is also likely to recommend doing away with a legal provision that allows the authorities to force employees to retire after they have been on the job for 25 years or more, said multiple sources in the commission.

Sections 44 and 45 of the Government Service Act-2018 would need to be amended in order to implement these recommendations.

The Public Administration Reform Commission held a meeting yesterday to finalise the recommendations. It will hand the chief adviser the recommendation on February 5, which is the new deadline for the submission.

"Currently, if a government employee voluntarily retires before 25 years in service, they do not get pension benefits. This is why the commission is recommending the change," said a source.

However, those retiring after 15 years will not get the full pension benefits, for which one must be on the job for 25 years.

No commission member is willing to explain on record the rationale behind the recommendations.

"Officers often receive better job offers in the private sector. Unless they have been on the job for 25 years, they often do not take those opportunities because they do not want to lose their pension benefits. We want to change that."

As to why the government should not be allowed to force someone to retire, another source said, "An officer should not be afraid of forced retirement for disagreeing with the government or having a history of being a member of an opposition party."

But if an employee does something wrong, the authorities can launch departmental procedure and force them to retire. "But such retirement should not be forced under the pretext of public interest."

The option of voluntary retirement after 15 years is an opportunity for some. A joint secretary who worked at the Prime Minister's Office when the Awami league was in power, said, "I have lost the enthusiasm for work. I got the job by obtaining brilliant results. I worked in important positions because of my ability to work well. But now I am labelled as a fascist collaborator. If they implement the recommendations, I will retire and leave the country."

Another source in the commission said the recommendations were not designed to give advantage to a particular group.

"In the past, recommendations of various commissions were rejected. As this commission was formed after a mass uprising, we hope the government will implement its recommendations.

"We strongly recommend stopping the current practice of giving promotions to more officers than there are posts. Those who do not get promotions will have the opportunity to leave the service after 15 years and move on."

The commission may propose reducing the time an officer gets to provide information sought under the Right to Information Act. it may also propose increasing the penalties under the act.

Public administration researcher and former secretary AKM Abdul Awal Majumder said, "In the armed forces, there is an opportunity for retirement after 15 years. Most officers cannot advance further after a major promotion, so they voluntarily retire and join other work. However, I don't think this opportunity will be taken by many in the civil administration. But if the option is there, I don't see any harm."

The commission will recommend lowering the number of ministries and divisions to 25 to 30 from the current 55.

The Economic Strategy Redefinition Task Force has already recommended merging the road, rail, water, and air transport ministries.

The commission may recommend not allowing officials of one institution to work in another on deputation.

It may recommend promotions to the rank of deputy secretary based on the Senior Service Pool (SSP) Order-1979.

The SSP initiative was taken during President Ziaur Rahman's tenure. It was not implemented by the HM Ershad government.

In that case, opportunities for administration cadre promotions to the rank of deputy secretary may be more limited.

However, the commission is also going to recommend reserving 50 percent of the positions for administration cadre promotions to the rank of deputy secretary.​

 

[Saif]

‘Capital city government’ for greater Dhaka

The Public Administration Reform Commission has proposed a “Capital City Government” for governing Dhaka city, Narayanganj, Keraniganj, Savar, and Tongi.

www.thedailystar.net

‘Capital city government’ for greater Dhaka

Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, the Public Administration Reform Commission chief, submits its report to the chief adviser at the state guesthouse Jamuna yesterday. Photo: PID

The Public Administration Reform Commission has proposed a "Capital City Government" for governing Dhaka city, Narayanganj, Keraniganj, Savar, and Tongi.

This government, similar to that of the federal government-controlled New Delhi, will have an elected legislature and local government.

The proposal was made considering the population and scope of services in the capital, according to the commission's report submitted to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday.

It also proposed introducing a provincial governance system, by turning four older divisions into provinces, to decentralise the service delivery system for the country's large population.

"This will reduce the potential for power concentration by a unitary government and alleviate the pressure on Dhaka as well," said the report.

However, implementing such a system would require constitutional amendments.

Asked, a commission member told The Daily Star, "We are aware that this proposal may spark debates and criticisms. However, considering that local government has not been effective in the last 54 years, we believe a provincial system is the best approach to decentralisation."

A similar initiative was considered during the Ershad regime, but it was never implemented.

The commission recommended the creation of two new administrative divisions -- Faridpur and Cumilla -- alongside the existing eight.

Led by Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, the commission submitted its report with around 200 recommendations to the chief adviser at the state guesthouse Jamuna. The Judiciary Reform Commission, led by Justice Shah Abu Naeem Mominur Rahman, also handed over its report there.

The Public Administration Reform Commission recommended reducing the number of ministries to 25 from 43, categorising ministries into five clusters, abolishing district councils, eliminating the cadre services, introducing an examination system for promotion to deputy secretary, and implementing a senior executive service.

The commission suggested scrapping the interest-free car loan and car maintenance allowances worth Tk 50,000 for deputy secretaries and higher officials.

"This will remove discrimination and also reduce public expenditure," it said.

Officers of the ranks of deputy secretary and above currently get a loan of Tk 30 lakh to buy a car and a monthly allowance of Tk 50,000 to hire a driver and pay for the maintenance of the vehicle.

The commission recommended doing away with a legal provision that allows the government to force employees to retire after they have been on the job for 25 years or more.

It also recommended allowing officials to voluntarily retire after 15 years in service, instead of 25 years.

It recommended eliminating the police verification process for passport issuance to make the system more efficient and citizen-friendly.

The commission split its recommendations into short-term (six months), medium-term (one to two years), and long-term plans.

SHORT-TERM PLAN

According to the commission report, the number of ministries should be reduced to 25 from 43 and the divisions to 40 from 61. The ministries should be put in one of the five clusters: Administration; Finance, Industry, and Commerce; Infrastructure and Communication; Agriculture and Environment; Human Resources, and Social Development.

As part of the structural and procedural reform of the civil service, the commission suggested abolishing the existing 26 cadres of officials and replacing them with 13 services.

These are Administrative Service, Judicial Service, Public Security Service, Foreign Service, Accounts Service, Audit Service, Revenue Service, Engineering Service, Education Service, Health Service, Agricultural Service, Information Service, and ICT Service.

The commission suggested the establishment of two more public service commissions -- one for education and another for health. The recruitment and promotions of teachers and doctors would be done by these two commissions.

The existing Public Service Commission will deal with recruitment of officers of other services.

The reform commission put forward a guideline for officials' promotion to secretary and proposed abolishing the existing Superior Selection Board (SSB), which oversees their selection process, and forming a new committee led by a minister.

It proposed a provision under which the government could hire qualified individuals for positions in the upper tier of the bureaucracy.

The commission recommended abolishing the zila parishad, arguing that the chairmen of the parishads have never been directly elected by citizens and that most zila parishads lack strong revenue sources.

It suggested that the mayors of the municipalities be elected by elected members of the municipality instead of direct voting. The commission also recommended abolishing the post of vice chairmen (both male and female) of the upazila parishads.

The commission suggested appointing officials equivalent to the rank of senior assistant secretary as the "secretary" of upazila parishads and relieving the upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) of upazila parishad duties.

It suggested renaming Deputy Commissioner (DC) to District Magistrate and District Commissioner, and UNOs to Sub-District Commissioner (SDC).

The commission recommended giving the District Magistrate the authority to accept complaints in criminal cases, subject to consultation with the Supreme Court, setting up magistrate courts at the upazila level, and appointing an ASP in every upazila.

It proposed transferring of the Land Registration Office to land ministry from the law ministry.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) could be divided into three separate entities -- Income Tax Department, Customs and Excise Department, VAT Department, the report said.

A proposal has also been made to merge the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), the Economic Zones Authority, and the Export Promotion Bureau into a single organisation to streamline their operations.

To ensure greater accountability in public service delivery, the commission proposed forming "District Citizen Committees" and "Upazila Citizen Committees" that would be modelled after parliamentary standing committees.

These committees will review government services and hold meetings every four months to provide necessary recommendations to relevant authorities.

MID-TERM PLAN

The commission recommended forming a "Superior Executive Service" to allow officials from various services to be promoted to deputy secretary and thus be in the policy-making level.

Under this system, 50 percent of promotions to deputy secretary will be reserved for administrative service officials, while the remaining 50 percent will be open to officials from other services through exams.

Candidates failing the exam twice will no longer be eligible for promotion, said the commission.

Meanwhile, writer, researcher and former secretary AKM Abdul Awal Majumdar came down heavily on the recommendations.

"If these recommendations are implemented, the civil service will fall into such a pit that it may no longer be possible to pull it out," he told The Daily Star.

"The mistakes of 1972 have kept us in a hole to this day. This mistake will plunge us into an abyss. Nowhere in the world do we see a system like the one being proposed."

LONG-TERM PLAN

The commission suggested integrating the National Climate Change Strategy into government policy frameworks.

It recommended discouraging the introduction of honours programmes in private colleges and emphasised the need for monitoring private madrasas and enhancing their efficiency through investments.

It suggested recruiting adequate number of teachers.​

 

[Saif]

Yunus urges all to accept reform reports

Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has called upon all concerned to accept the reports of the reform commissions and come forward to implement those...

www.newagebd.net

Yunus urges all to accept reform reports
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka 05 February, 2025, 23:57

Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. | Star Mail file photo

Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has called upon all concerned to accept the reports of the reform commissions and come forward to implement those.

‘I hope all will unanimously accept and implement those (reports),’ he said while speaking at a function at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Public Administration Reform Commission led by Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury and Judiciary Reform Commission led by Justice Shah Abu Naeem Mominur Rahman handed over their reports to chief adviser Professor Yunus at the function.

Members of the commissions were present.

Addressing on the occasion Professor Yunus said, ‘We have many bitter experiences of harassment, humiliation and insult. We have experience of forgetting about our demands and rights.’

He said it was a matter of hope that the reform reports submitted on Wednesday would pave the way of making the people free and get back their rights.

The chief adviser said the reports of the reform commissions would be shared with citizens, political parties and civil society members so that they all could reach a consensus to this end.

The reports of the reform commissions are the remarkable documents in the history of Bangladesh, he said expressing gratitude to the chairmen of the commissions and all members for the efforts to prepare the report.

The chief adviser observed that the reports of the commission will contribute to the whole world, not only to Bangladesh.

‘I have received those (reports) as the assets for the world. It will have a place in history,’ he noted.

Addressing the nation on September 11, 2024, chief adviser Professor Yunus announced the formation of six commissions.

Four other reform commissions - Electoral System Reform Commission, Police Administration Reform Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission Reform Commission, and the Constitution Reform Commission submitted their reports to the chief adviser on January 15 last.​

 

[Saif]

Reform dialogue must deliver consensus

Talks with political parties scheduled in mid-February

www.thedailystar.net

Reform dialogue must deliver consensus
Talks with political parties scheduled in mid-February

VISUAL: STAR

It's reassuring to know that the interim government is moving ahead as per the timeline set for the reform drive, with talks with political parties slated to begin in mid-February. According to Law Adviser Asif Nazrul, the date of the first meeting will be fixed in consultation with the parties and stakeholders of the July uprising. Six reform commissions have already submitted their reports, while the remaining ones are expected to submit theirs by this month. Dialogue on their recommendations forms the second—and perhaps most crucial—phase of the drive, as it will determine not just the reforms that can eventually be pursued but also the consensus necessary for their continuation post-elections.

A timely and proper completion of this process has grown in significance of late. This is partly due to the unfortunate debate that has surfaced around "elections versus reforms"—exposing growing distrust between political parties like the BNP and student movement leaders—and partly due to continued public suffering caused by the suspended stage in which the nation finds itself, pending reforms in key sectors. Expediting consensus-building on the reform proposals is, therefore, paramount. However, this will be anything but easy, as evidenced by recent comments and gestures by key stakeholders.

The fact is, while the next election is crucial for restoring people's right to vote, it is the elections after that which will be the true test of the durability of the current reform process. After all, so many people did not die in the uprising just for a temporary democratic transition. As well as free elections, it is equally important that all other impending state reforms are faithfully implemented in the long run. For that, consensus is vital.

The BNP, for example, has announced a plan to launch "a movement" aimed at "correcting some government mistakes" and "clearing the way" for an elected political government. Earlier, its secretary general suggested that if the interim government loses its neutrality in conducting elections, it should be replaced by a "neutral government"—a comment that drew fierce reactions from student representatives in the government. Such confrontational exchanges weaken the government's position as a mediator in the reform drive. They also raise questions about whether the stakeholders can see eye to eye on the more radical reform proposals surrounding the constitution, electoral structure, judiciary, and public administration.

This is where Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, also head of the National Consensus Commission, must play a critical role. At the heart of the reform discussions will be the challenge of reconciling differing priorities. He and other commission members must therefore show extreme foresight and patience to navigate the political minefield and convince stakeholders to move beyond entrenched positions. They must also ensure that the process does not lose legitimacy or stall under pressure, which would result in further political instability, setting back both the reform agenda and the prospect of a smooth democratic transition. Given the stakes, the participating parties must also approach the upcoming dialogue with a spirit of compromise.

The fact is, while the next election is crucial for restoring people's right to vote, it is the elections after that which will be the true test of the durability of the current reform process. After all, so many people did not die in the uprising just for a temporary democratic transition. As well as free elections, it is equally important that all other impending state reforms are faithfully implemented in the long run. For that, consensus is vital, so all stakeholders must put their differences aside and engage in the dialogue with sincerity.​