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

[Saif]

Talks likely with political parties over reforms in Feb: Rizwana

Environment adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said the interim government is hopeful to initiate formal talks with political parties next month for reaching a consensus on reform agenda. “I think talks with political parties can begin formally in the middle of February," she told in a press...

en.prothomalo.com

Talks likely with political parties over reforms in Feb: Rizwana
BSS
Dhaka
Published: 15 Jan 2025, 17: 43

Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Wednesday spoke in a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy. BSS

Environment adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said the interim government is hopeful to initiate formal talks with political parties next month for reaching a consensus on reform agenda.

“I think talks with political parties can begin formally in the middle of February," she told in a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy today, Wednesday after submission of the reports of the four reform commissions to the chief adviser.

“We are in a sort of dialogue already with the political parties as they have submitted their written proposal on reforms,” she noted.

Law adviser Asif Nazrul however said it might be possible to open formal talks with political parties in the first week of February if necessary works on the submitted reports are completed.

Earlier in the day, the chiefs of four reform commissions- Constitutional Reform Commission, Electoral Reform Commission, Police Administration Reform Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Reform Commission- submitted their reports to chief adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus at his Tajgaon office.

Youth and sports adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain and chief adviser’s press secretary Shafiqul Alam also spoke at the press briefing.​

 

[Saif]

We never got a chance to reform our state and politics like now. Let’s not waste it

Our initial study of the reports of the four commissions indicates that the recommendations are quite substantive.

www.thedailystar.net

We never got a chance to reform our state and politics like now. Let’s not waste it

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus with the heads of the four reform commissions that submitted their reports on January 15, 2025. PHOTO: PID

This may turn out to be Prof Muhammad Yunus's most lasting legacy. He gave a chance to the poor to break out of the shackles of poverty through microcredit. He is now giving Bangladesh a chance to break out of all its political, governance, and institutional shackles to march forward with democracy, equality, justice, and tolerance. With one stroke, he is literally opening up a rare chance to carry out fundamental reforms in some of the vital areas that we have been unable to do over the last 54 years.

While we congratulate the chief adviser and his team for this grand work, we must not forget to thank the real heroes who opened the door for all these reforms for us: the students, a section of teachers, intellectuals, civil society leaders, a section of the media, and, of course, the general public.

Independence in 1971 gave us the first opportunity to build a democratic and egalitarian state. We got a second chance when Gen HM Ershad fell and democracy was restored after a coordinated mass uprising led by the alliance of political parties. We missed both these opportunities. Now, historically, the students' nation-building role is not new; they played pivotal roles in the Language Movement of 1952, and the democratic and anti-military movements of the Pakistan period in the late 1950s and 1960s. Their role, including that of our rural youth, during our Muktijuddho, was the most glorious. They were at the forefront of the anti-Ershad movement in the 1990s, and then the student-led mass movement in July-August 2024 that has given a new opening to build the Bangladesh that was the dream of the Liberation War martyrs.

When Sheikh Hasina fell, instead of going for an immediate election, instituting a self-corrective process was the right—and historic—decision. The idea to form reform commissions was a most appropriate one. The choice of areas to concentrate on were right. The selection of individuals to head the commissions received general acceptability, though the relative absence of a woman head of commission (except one) marked a serious lapse. Finishing the work of four commissions within the stipulated time also testifies to their efficiency and sincerity.

Our initial study of the reports of the four commissions, submitted on January 15, indicates that the recommendations are quite substantive, though some seem based more on emotion than clear judgement.

Recommendations of the Constitution Reform Commission are very significant. We support the introduction of the bicameral system, limiting the tenure of a prime minister to two terms, introduction of the National Constitutional Council, and reintroduction of the caretaker government system. However, we think holding elections after every four years may be counterproductive as it shortens the tenure of an elected government to implement their plans and projects. Also, elections are a hugely expensive affair and involve massive logistical tasks, which a country like ours may find burdensome.

Reforms of the election system and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) are vital. We want to emphasise police reforms because, of all the state institutions, the police, in our view, have been maligned and misused the most. A study conducted by the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) and Tech Global Institute (TGI), which was released on January 14, showed how our police force was turned into a brutal, inhuman and bloodthirsty force, which proves the urgent need to totally transform the force from an anti-people institution to a pro-people one. The most difficult task will be changing the mindset of the police members. They have been conditioned to hate demonstrators and consider every protester as an "enemy." They have little training on crowd control, except to beat them up or shoot to injure or kill.

All recommendations of the four commissions, and others that are expected to follow, must be subject to a genuine national debate. The first thing that needs to be guaranteed is openness. There should be no name-calling and "tagging" because of the views expressed, which will prevent the type of genuine discussions that we need. The chief adviser has correctly focused on discussions with political parties. We think an additional attempt should be made to engage think tanks, specialised rights groups, religious and ethnic minorities, etc. The media should reach out to its readers and viewers and try to expand both the depth and reach of the discussion.

As for the political parties, they should approach the reform proposals with national interests in mind, and not that of their parties. There is no denying the fact that after the restoration of democracy in 1991, Bangladesh has been ruled by only two parties—the Awami League (AL) and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)—though both had allies while in power. With Sheikh Hasina's fascistic rule, we may be tempted to forget that BNP ruled us for 10 years since Ershad fell.

The basic mistake made by both AL and BNP during the period of 1991-2006 is that they did not consider the parliament to be the House of the People, but rather as an extension of the ruling party, because the treasury bench had the majority. The fact that even as the minority of few, the parliament offered a much better chance for the opposition to voice dissent. But in our case, the unfortunate trend was to boycott parliament. It would always start with a walkout for hours, followed by boycott for days, then weeks, then months and finally resignation. Our lack of experience in operating within a parliamentary form of constitutional structure—we practically had none till 1991—was the main cause of our failure. The notion that the opposition is considered the "government in waiting" or the "shadow government", and as such commands a place within the power structure, had no place in the thinking process of the treasury bench. On the other side, the opposition thought that making the government dysfunctional by never cooperating with them in parliament was their objective, which terribly weakened the system. Let's not forget the public suffering and damage to the economy that were caused by incessant and irrational hartals.

This newspaper has published dozens of reports, editorials, and op-eds pleading with the ruling party to give due respect and status to the opposition, while begging the opposition not to boycott the House. It was all to no avail. The result was the gradual weakening of the parliament, the parliamentary system, and finally democracy.

While reforms of so many state institutions are under discussion, we cannot miss the fact that we need to reform our political parties too.

Prof Yunus's move to set up a consensus commission is a highly commendable one. Dialogue with all political parties is the way to go forward. However, there is also the critical responsibility of the political parties to take the whole process seriously and honestly. We urge them to bring their concern to the table, argue with facts and logic, but finally come to a consensus. Once we are able to do that, political parties must pledge publicly that whichever party is voted to power by the people will honour their pledge, and through resolutions in the new parliament, they will bring them all into our governance structure through amending both the constitution and the relevant laws.

Mahfuz Anam is the editor and publisher of The Daily Star.​

 

[Saif]

A new chapter for the nation

Submission of four commission reports brings momentum in reform process

www.thedailystar.net

A new chapter for the nation
Submission of four commission reports brings momentum into the reform process

VISUAL: STAR

We welcome the submission of reports by four reform commissions to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday, bringing momentum into the interim government's state reform drive as it can now engage with key stakeholders based on the framework provided through these (and other upcoming) reports. As Prof Yunus has aptly called it, this marks the beginning of "a new chapter" for Bangladesh. In the coming days, the proposals submitted by the commissions on constitution, elections, police, and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) are expected to be discussed and debated at length to ensure consensus, with the talks with political parties likely beginning in mid-February. One hopes all this will eventually lead to the outcome desired by citizens.

Among the most crucial proposals are those aimed at restructuring the constitution and the electoral system. Expanding people's fundamental rights to include food, clothing, shelter, education, internet, and voting, the Constitution Reform Commission has proposed replacing "nationalism," "socialism," and "secularism" with equality, human dignity, social justice, and pluralism as state principles, with democracy the only core principle retained from the 1972 constitution.

The first signs, however, are encouraging, as the four reports propose sweeping changes targeting the systemic flaws that facilitated unchecked executive power, electoral manipulation, and institutional decay. Among the most crucial proposals are those aimed at restructuring the constitution and the electoral system. Expanding people's fundamental rights to include food, clothing, shelter, education, internet, and voting, the Constitution Reform Commission has proposed replacing "nationalism," "socialism," and "secularism" with equality, human dignity, social justice, and pluralism as state principles, with democracy the only core principle retained from the 1972 constitution. Key proposals also include a bicameral parliament, two-term limits for president and prime minister, allowing MPs to vote against party line (except in finance bills), decentralising the judiciary, forming a National Constitutional Council, stronger opposition-led parliamentary oversight, etc.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Reform Commission has recommended significant changes to enhance the Election Commission's powers and ensure its accountability. Key proposals include empowering the EC to suspend elections for up to 90 days with Supreme Court approval, disqualifying individuals accused of serious human rights violations from elections, holding all elections under a caretaker government, requiring political parties to conduct internal elections, banning their student, teacher or labour wings, online voting by expatriates, etc. The reform commission also called for the reintroduction of the "No-Vote" option. Similarly, reports by the Police Reform Commission and the ACC Reform Commission have laid down pathways to address systemic flaws in these vital institutions and ensure accountability.

At the heart of this drive lies a singular goal: to restore democracy in its true form and prevent the return of authoritarianism. The success of these recommendations, therefore, must be measured not by their adoption alone, but by their faithful implementation.

At the heart of this drive lies a singular goal: to restore democracy in its true form and prevent the return of authoritarianism. The success of these recommendations, therefore, must be measured not by their adoption alone, but by their faithful implementation. If we are to build a future where state power is exercised in service of the people rather than against them, any reforms must be pursued with an unwavering commitment to public interests. This is where the role of political parties—who will be tasked with implementing the reforms after the next elections—becomes crucial. They must credibly demonstrate their commitment to this process, including by undertaking intra-party internal reforms, while citizens too must actively take part in it.

Without the collaborative efforts of all, the change sought through the July uprising will remain unfulfilled.​

 

[Saif]

Set priority reform sectors based on consensus: EU

However, the EU said those priority reform areas should be identified based on a consensus reached by dialogues between the interim government and political parties.

www.thedailystar.net

Set priority reform sectors based on consensus: EU

Photo: Courtesy/BSS

The EU today said it stands ready to support the interim government's ambitious reforms on democracy, rule of law, and human rights.

However, the EU said those priority reform areas should be identified based on a consensus reached by dialogues between the interim government and political parties.

EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller made the comments after meeting with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders to learn about its political plans.

The remarks came after four reform commissions submitted their recommendations on 15 January. It also came after Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus last month set out possible election dates.

Meanwhile, the US said it remains dedicated to upholding human rights and strengthening the justice system to ensure the principles of fairness and security for all.

In her first engagement with the interim government, new Chargé d'Affaires, Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson had a "productive discussion" with the Law Adviser Asif Nazrul on labour rights, judicial reform, and counter-terrorism.​

 

[Saif]

Reform proposals without consensus unacceptable

Says Fakhrul; BNP pays tribute to Ziaur Rahman on his 89th birth anniversary

www.thedailystar.net

Reform proposals without consensus unacceptable
Says Fakhrul; BNP pays tribute to Ziaur Rahman on his 89th birth anniversary

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said none of the reform proposals will be acceptable without the consensus of the political parties.

When asked about the submitted reports of the four reform commissions, he said, "We are yet to make any initial remarks as we have not received the full report. The government has said it will hold discussions with political parties after receiving the reports and make a decision on the reform proposals afterwards. Without consensus, none of it will be acceptable."

The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking to reporters after paying tribute to Ziaur Rahman on the occasion of his 89th birth anniversary at his grave in the capital's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.

"We hope, within a short time, we can return to democracy through elections and that such a system can be established," Fakhrul said.

Asked about BNP's demand for elections by July-August, which some have called unrealistic due to the challenges of reforms and justice, Fakhrul said, "We have always said there is no conflict between reforms and elections."

He said the party that wins the election and forms the government will carry forward the reforms.

"We can say it clearly, on behalf of our party, that we will take forward every reform if we form the government," he said.

To mark the birth anniversary of BNP founder, Fakhrul, alongside other party activists and leaders, paid homage by placing floral wreaths at the mausoleum of Ziaur Rahman.

After paying tributes, Fakhrul said, "When Ziaur Rahman assumed state leadership in 1975, he undertook numerous reforms in a short time to build a modern and prosperous Bangladesh."

"He (Ziaur Rahman) was also the first to liberate the economy from the restrictive socialist framework and introduce a free-market economic plan. It was during his tenure that a revolution occurred in agriculture," added Fakhrul.

Zia became a statesman after a lot of political changes post-Liberation War. He established the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on September 1 in 1978.​

 

[Saif]

Reforms may cause short-term economic slowdown: BB

Economic activities may slow down in the near term as the government has opted to initiate massive economic reform measures, the Bangladesh Bank (BB) said yesterday.

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Reforms may cause short-term economic slowdown: BB

Economic activities may slow down in the near term as the government has opted to initiate massive economic reform measures, the Bangladesh Bank (BB) said yesterday.

The reforms will eventually benefit the economy in the medium and long run, it said in its July-September issue of Bangladesh Bank Quarterly, a publication of the central bank.

This comes two days after the World Bank projected that Bangladesh's economy may grow by 4.1 percent in the fiscal year 2024-25 due to subdued investment and industrial activity amid heightened political uncertainty.

In its quarterly publication, the central bank said that Bangladesh's economy is going through a transitional phase with the formation of the interim government, while a gradual return to economic normalcy has already started.

The reforms will eventually benefit the economy in the medium and long run, the central bank said

The BB said the economy experienced significant disruptions across all three major sectors—agriculture, industry, and services—following the uprising in July and August last year.

Moreover, when the interim government started its journey with greater commitments towards economic reforms, economic activities were affected by repeated floods in many districts during August and September 2024.

Nonetheless, rebounding external demand, reflected in robust export growth and hefty remittance inflows during the July-September period of fiscal year 2024-25, depicted a promising momentum towards growth performance in the coming quarters.

The BB said inflation rose to 9.92 percent in the first quarter of FY25, up from 9.72 percent in the last quarter of FY24.

Inflation surged to a record high of 11.66 percent in July 2024 before softening in the subsequent two months.

"The July spike, the highest in 13 years, was primarily attributed to supply chain disruptions from the nationwide student uprising," said the central bank.

The BB said rising food inflation was the main driver of headline inflation in the first quarter of FY25.

Moreover, the point-to-point core inflation, which excludes volatile items such as food and fuel, increased to 10.40 percent at the end of the July-September quarter of FY25, up from 8.32 percent at the end of the previous quarter.

The central bank said it intensified its contractionary monetary policy to ease persistent inflationary pressures.

"Inflation may require the continuation of a tight monetary policy stance for some periods ahead," it said, adding that the BB is likely to maintain its contractionary monetary policy stance until clear signs of easing inflation are evident.

The central bank said its initiatives for banking reforms to ensure governance in the financial sector are expected to bring macroeconomic stability very soon.

"In the medium term, the economy is anticipated to rebound gradually with the advancement of the reform activities and correction processes initiated by monetary and fiscal authorities."

The central bank said Bangladesh's external sector started to recover, reflected in an improved current account balance, a more stabilised exchange rate, and slower erosion of foreign exchange reserves.​

 

[Saif]

Six reform commissions get extended time until Feb 15 to finalise recommendations

The Cabinet Division has issued a notification extending the tenure of six reform commissions until Feb 15. The extension had been announced earlier by the Chief Advisor’s Press Wing, and a formal notification came on Monday, according to bdnews24.com. The commissions whose tenures have bee

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Six reform commissions get extended time until Feb 15 to finalise recommendations
Published :
Jan 20, 2025 22:03
Updated :
Jan 20, 2025 22:03

The Cabinet Division has issued a notification extending the tenure of six reform commissions until Feb 15.

The extension had been announced earlier by the Chief Advisor’s Press Wing, and a formal notification came on Monday, according to bdnews24.com.

The commissions whose tenures have been extended include the Constitution Reform Commission, Public Administration Reform Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission, or ACC, Reform Commission, Judiciary Reform Commission, Police Reform Commission, and Election System Reform Commission.

Among these, the tenure of the Constitution Reform Commission, Election System Reform Commission, ACC Reform Commission, and Police Reform Commission ended on Jan 15.

Meanwhile, The tenure of the Public Administration and Judiciary Reform Commissions was set to end on Jan 31.

The interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, had formed these commissions to initiate sector-wise reforms

Four of the commissions submitted their final reports by Jan 15.

The judiciary and public administration reform commissions are expected to file their reports by Jan 31.

Following the submission of the reports by the Constitution, ACC, police, and election system reform commissions on Jan 15, the government announced that the tenure of all six commissions would be extended until Feb 15.

During this period, the heads of these reform commissions will exchange views and coordinate their recommendations.​

 

[Saif]

Leadership structure barrier to NBR reform: advisory committee

Advisory committee formed to recommend proposals for the reform of the National Board of Revenue has identified dual role of secretary of the Internal Resources Division as an obstacle to the NBR’s efficiency...

www.newagebd.net

Leadership structure barrier to NBR reform: advisory committee
United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka 21 January, 2025, 22:56

Advisory committee formed to recommend proposals for the reform of the National Board of Revenue has identified dual role of secretary of the Internal Resources Division as an obstacle to the NBR’s efficiency.

The same person serves as the IRD secretary and the NBR chairman, complicating the NBR’s effective performance, the committee said in its interim report recently submitted to the government.

On October 9 last year, the interim government formed the five-member advisory committee through a gazette notification.

The committee comprises two former NBR chairmen – Muhammad Abdul Mazid and Nasiruddin Ahmed – and three former NBR members – M Delowar Hossain, Farid Uddin and Aminur Rahman.

As per the gazette, the committee’s responsibilities include advising on fiscal policy and revenue administration reforms, assessing the NBR’s institutional capacity and recommending modernisation measures.

It also focuses on promoting integrity, enhancing governance and improving citizen and stakeholder engagement regarding revenue reforms.

The interim mentioned that the dual role of the IRD secretary and NBR chairman, created to address administrative complexities, has hindered effective governance.

Established in 1979 under a secretary’s leadership, the IRD was intended to oversee tax policy, tax administration and taxpayer services as outlined in the Rules of Business, 1976.

But the report highlighted that the overlapping responsibilities have resulted in inefficiencies.

To resolve these issues and create a transparent, development-friendly revenue framework, it called for amendments to Presidential Order No 76 of 1972, proposing the restructuring of the NBR and IRD.

This demand is also being voiced by various stakeholders including development partners, the report added.

In this context, the advisory committee, after reviewing the relevant rules and regulations in this regard with a holistic view, proposals and suggestions from the relevant stakeholders, and following the international best practices, proposed that two activities of the National Board of Revenue – formulating revenue policy and revenue collection by implementing the policy.

The committee recommended separating the functions of policy formulation and revenue collection by establishing an independent ‘Revenue Commission’ with a department status.

While the commission would focus on policy development, the restructured NBR would concentrate on policy implementation and revenue collection, it said.

To make the proposed reforms effective, the report said, the organisational structure of both the proposed institutions will be upgraded by changing both horizontally and vertically.​

 

[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.”​