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

[Saif]

Government forms selection committee for ACC chairman and commissioner appointments

The government has established a five-member selection committee to recommend appointments for the positions of Chairman and Commissioners of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The committee is chaired by Justice Md. Rezaul Haque from the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. A

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Government forms selection committee for ACC chairman and commissioner appointments
FE Online Desk
Published :
Nov 10, 2024 20:24
Updated :
Nov 10, 2024 20:24

Government forms a five-member committee, led by Justice Rezaul Haque, to recommend ACC leadership appointments

The government has established a five-member selection committee to recommend appointments for the positions of Chairman and Commissioners of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The committee is chaired by Justice Md. Rezaul Haque from the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.

An order was issued by the Cabinet Division on Sunday to form this committee under Section 7 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, specifically to assist with ACC leadership appointments.

The committee members include Justice Farah Mahbub from the High Court Division, Comptroller and Auditor General Md. Nurul Islam, Chairman of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) Prof. Dr. Mobasser Monem, and former Cabinet Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain.

For each vacant position, the committee will recommend two candidates based on the majority decision of at least three members. The list will then be forwarded to the President for final approval under Section 6 of the Act.

To reach a decision, a minimum of four committee members must be present. The Cabinet Division will provide necessary secretarial support for the committee’s operations.

According to the ACC Act, 2004, the commission comprises three commissioners, one of whom serves as the Chairman. Each commissioner holds a five-year term.

ACC Chairman Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah, Commissioner (Investigation) Md. Zahurul Haque, and Commissioner (Inquiry) Mosammat Asiya Khatun resigned on October 29. All three were appointed during the tenure of the Awami League government.​

 

[Saif]

Govt should be given rational time for reforms: Fakhrul

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in Lalmonirhat on Tuesday said the interim government should be given reasonable time for carrying out reforms. “Rational time should be given to the interim government for reforms. We have to show patience so t

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Govt should be given rational time for reforms: Fakhrul
BSS
Published :
Nov 12, 2024 18:31
Updated :
Nov 12, 2024 18:31

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in Lalmonirhat on Tuesday said the interim government should be given reasonable time for carrying out reforms.

“Rational time should be given to the interim government for reforms. We have to show patience so that the government can conduct all the reforms in a peaceful and disciplined manner. Don’t take everything politically rather problems should be resolved through dialogue,” he said.

He made the remarks while inaugurating Shaheed Zia Smriti Football Tournament as the chief guest in Barobari area of Lalmonirhat district.

The present government should be more careful in appointing advisers, as no dubious person could be appointed as an adviser.

Fakhrul said the fascist Awami League government has taken the country almost to destruction through massive corruption and irregularities.

Lalmonirhat district BNP President and Central Organising Secretary Ahsan Habib Dulu presided over the inaugural function while Bangladesh Football Federation President Tabith Awal, former captain of national football team and Dhaka North City BNP Aminul Islam, among others were present.​

 

[Bilal9]

Need proper reforms before election

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman yesterday said they want the country to go through proper reforms before an election.

www.thedailystar.net

Need proper reforms before election
Says Jamaat ameer

View attachment 9027
Shafiqur Rahman. Photo: Collected

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman yesterday said they want the country to go through proper reforms before an election.

An acceptable election can only be held after a thorough reform, he said.

He was speaking as chief guest in a rally, organised by Pabna district unit of Jamaat, held at the Pabna Edward College yesterday afternoon.

"We want to give a logical amount of time to the interim government before holding the election so that they can make proper reforms in different sectors. Through the path of such reforms, we can have a fair and acceptable election," said Dr Shafiqur.

The roadmap for the reformation should be fixed after holding discussions with political parties, he also said.

Appreciating the initiative of the interim government, the Jamaat Ameer said this government has been formed through a revolution, so they have to do a lot.

"If the interim government fails, then the entire nation will fail. So they have to be successful, and we have to help this government for the sake of proper reformation," he added.

Shafiqur also said they have forgiven Awami League for oppressing their party, but they will never forgive the mass killings conducted by the AL government.

"We want justice for every killing," he said.

The party's district unit ameer Abu Taleb Mondol chaired the rally.

Earlier, Shafiqur met with the families of the martyred students during the student movement in Pabna.​

I like this current leader or Ameer (Dr. Shafiqur Rahman) of the Jamaat in Bangladesh.

A proper leader and role model of the Jamaat (an Islamist entity) should show publicly proclaimed tolerance toward minorities, toward women and generally toward groups who are victims of oppression whether societal or political. I think he passes with stellar colors on all these counts.

Islamists should be the first ones to proclaim fairness and opportunity for non-Muslims to show the true colors of Islam as a tolerant religion in Bangladesh and the spirit of working together with all groups to reach political and religious consensus. The current Ameer understands this principle well.

He is non-corruptible (as leaders of Jamaat generally are in Bangladesh) and fair and reasonable in his statements for tolerance and all-around reasonable behavior. A proper Islamist should be a good Islamist who defends Muslim principles but is stubbornly fair and tolerant toward non-Muslims in our society as well, embracing inclusivity and a helping hand principle as outlined in the tolerant nature of Bangladeshi society.

As a leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh - we expect no less of him.

 

[Saif]

Pace of reforms will determine time for polls

Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus yesterday told AFP that reforms are needed before his country can elect a government following the ouster of autocratic former ruler Sheikh Hasina.

www.thedailystar.net

Pace of reforms will determine time for polls
Says Prof Yunus in interview with AFP

"We are the interim government, so our period should be as short as possible."— Prof Muhammad Yunus

Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus yesterday told AFP that reforms are needed before his country can elect a government following the ouster of autocratic former ruler Sheikh Hasina.

The speed of reforms "will decide how quick the election will be," the Nobel Peace Prize winner and micro-finance pioneer said in an interview on the sidelines of the COP29 climate talks in Baku.

But he insisted that he would steer the country towards a democratic vote.

"That's a promise that we made, that as soon as we are ready, we'll have the elections, and the elected people can take over, run the country," he said.

He said the country needed to quickly agree on possible constitutional reforms, as well as the shape of the government, parliament and election rules.

"We are the interim government, so our period should be as short as possible."

Yunus was named to lead the government as "chief adviser" after a student-led uprising toppled Hasina in August.

Tens of thousands demonstrated in protests against job quotas that morphed into a nationwide struggle to end Hasina's 15 years of iron-fisted rule.

More than 700 people were killed, many in a brutal police crackdown, before Hasina fled to India on August 5.

Hasina rule saw widespread human rights abuses, including the mass detention and extrajudicial killings of her political opponents.

"Any government would be concerned about stability. We are also," he said.

"We are hoping that we can sort it out and have a peaceful law and order," he added.

"It's only three months after the revolution."

In the three months since becoming Bangladesh's interim leader following a student-led revolution, Yunus has endured political turmoil, impatient cries for elections, and destructive flooding across the low-lying nation.

Impatience for elections in Bangladesh has gained pace since Hasina's ouster, and the silver-haired technocrat said he shared concerns for peace and security in the nation of 170 million.

Bangladesh is struggling financially and, earlier this month, Indian firm Adani slashed cross-border electricity supply by half due to some $850 million in unpaid bills.​

 

[Saif]

The case for internal reforms within political parties

Political parties in Bangladesh need to reconsider their governance structures, taking cues from liberal democracies around the world.

www.thedailystar.net

The case for internal reforms within political parties
Political parties in Bangladesh need to reconsider their governance structures, taking cues from liberal democracies around the world.

VISUAL: ANWAR SOHEL

When a country's politicians seek nationality or residency rights in foreign countries, it signals that its politics has reached an impasse—a dead end—with leaders hedging their bets with an exit strategy should their careers become untenable. This disturbing tendency has become evident in Bangladesh after a report revealed that 24 politicians who served as ministers, advisers or members of parliament during the tenure of the ousted Awami League government hold foreign citizenship or residency cards. They have allegedly acquired these privileges by concealing information, which constitutes a breach of both the law and Bangladesh's constitution. Article 66 of the constitution clearly states that a person who acquires foreign citizenship or pledges allegiance to a foreign state cannot serve as a member of parliament.

This disregard for the people and country they were supposed to serve can be attributed to the erosion of the electoral system, breakdown of good governance, pervasive financial corruption, and unchecked money laundering over the 15-plus years under deposed autocrat Sheikh Hasina. Her misgovernance displayed traits commonly associated with fascism, such as curtailing electoral democracy, stifling political and cultural liberalism, establishing family-centred rule, using security forces for personal and crony interests, and scapegoating political or social groups to deflect blame for any national failure or crisis. Above all, there was an extensive personality cult built through state-funded propaganda.

In Bangladesh 2.0—following Sheikh Hasina's fall and her subsequent refuge in India on August 5, 2024—the state reform drive of the interim government has focused on various areas, including the electoral system, constitution, judiciary, civil administration, and media. However, one of the most essential components of state reform—politics and political parties—has been relatively absent in the reform agenda or even public discourse.

In the case of politicians who have shown divided or no loyalty to Bangladesh by secretly obtaining foreign citizenship, their parties must also share the blame, as there is currently no effective monitoring process for nominating parliamentary candidates or even vetting aspirant party members. Sadly, the charters and rules of political parties are often not aligned with national laws and electoral procedures.

In Bangladesh 2.0—following Sheikh Hasina's fall and her subsequent refuge in India on August 5, 2024—the state reform drive of the interim government has focused on various areas, including the electoral system, constitution, judiciary, civil administration, and media. However, one of the most essential components of state reform—politics and political parties—has been relatively absent in the reform agenda or even public discourse.

Public discourse has long highlighted the need for MPs to exercise independent judgement in their legislative duties, calling for amendments to Article 70 of the constitution, which reads, "A person elected as a Member of Parliament at an election at which he was nominated as a candidate by a political party shall vacate his seat if he resigns from that party; or votes in Parliament against that party." Many argue that MPs should be allowed to vote independently—except in cases of no-confidence motions and finance bills—to strengthen democratic practices. However, Bangladesh's major political parties, including the BNP and Awami League, lack internal democracy. Therefore, before considering constitutional amendments, it is crucial to reform party charters to promote internal democracy.

In recent decades, major political parties have increasingly placed absolute trust in their top leaders, elevating them to near-unchallenged authority. This approach has weakened decision-making processes and stalled internal democratic practices, exposing deep-seated crises in our politics.

Most district-level committees, as well as the central committees, of the parties are not formed through secret ballots or any standardised process. Top positions have been held by the same individuals for decades, while their family members either serve as their deputies or are groomed to take over leadership. Even other key positions, such as general secretary or secretary general, are not elected within party forums but are instead handpicked.

This practice of selecting leaders without transparent processes often leads to street demonstrations and intra-party conflicts. Without a fair and inclusive process, such conflicts—sometimes turning violent—are likely to continue in today's changed political scenario.

Even the nomination process for party tickets in parliamentary or local elections resembles a quasi-feudal system, where grassroots leaders or aspiring candidates have minimal influence. A select group of central leaders decides on nominations based on criteria known only to themselves.

Considering the gravity of all such undemocratic practices, political parties in Bangladesh need to reconsider their governance structures, taking cues from liberal democracies around the world. They should embrace internal democracy at every level of decision-making, moving away from practices that centralise power among elites or family dynasties.

Politics should be seen as a mission, not a profession, and politicians must ensure they have legitimate sources of income. To combat corruption, political parties should require all members to maintain a valid, sustainable profession outside politics.

Proper electoral reforms can enhance discipline and transparency within the political process. In a country where large numbers of people are mobilised for rallies and election day operations, technological improvements could streamline these activities. For instance, introducing smart IDs at polling stations could reduce the need for polling booth agents, lessening dependence on full-time loyalists. In the 11th parliamentary election on December 30, 2018, over 200,000 polling booths were set up across more than 40,000 centres, requiring substantial manpower and resources.

Further reforms should be made to the Representation of the People Order, 1972. Key positions within political parties must be elected by secret ballots in councils, ideally under the Election Commission's supervision, to prevent unopposed or uncontested selections. The commission should also audit party finances annually, mandating transparency in political funding by requiring parties to disclose their donors.

Finally, we must ask: should individuals who lack absolute loyalty to Bangladesh be barred from joining political parties? Should parties voluntarily revoke membership of individuals with foreign citizenship or residency permits, given that they cannot legally run in national elections? The answers are not difficult to reach.

Shamim A Zahedy is a journalist.​