Present governance system in Bangladesh is now under necessary reform measures for crafting a true shape of democratic governance. Though crafting a democratic governance is a challenging issue, but it is not impossible to establish. Democratic governance would require addressing existing structural challenges while fostering institutions that guarantee the rule of law, transparency, accountability and citizen’s participation everywhere in the governance system. Given the country’s socio-political context, implementing democratic principles effectively require a multi-dimensional approach to manage public frustrations, violence, inequality, economic instability, and market and price manipulation.
After a successful revolution everywhere in the world it often reflects widespread dissatisfaction with governance, frequent violence, weak law and order situation and price hike as a part of frustration of the day to day life. In this situation, government would need to address the dissatisfaction of people as quick as possible by taking immediate measures to rebuild trust of the people. High attention and all out measures need to be taken to reduce the price of essential commodities by imports and sale those with reduced price. Government may give subsidy to import value. New required number of persons may be appointed in the police force as quick as possible. At least 50 per cent female can be appointed to the total police force and 50 per cent female police officers may be posted as the officer-in-charge (OC) of a police station. Benefit of appointing female police officers as OC would need hundred thousand words which may be discussed in a separate article.
Public sector needs to give space to CSOs, NGOs, and advocacy groups to play their due roles in governance for monitoring government actions, in some cases providing public services, and representing voices of marginal people. This includes lifting restrictions on civil society actors and enabling them to operate freely with public sector bodies. A mechanism to engage citizens in policy-making and implementation process through meetings, public
consultations, and digital platforms for feedback on key issues needs to be established. This fosters a democratic environment with a sense of ownership in governance and creates more informed and active citizens. This is time for youth. Youth and women’s participation in politics and governance is precondition for democratic governance. Economic issues such as unemployment, inflation, and inequality often play a central role in fueling non-democratic governance. The policy makers should take immediate steps to address the grievances of the economically marginalised people. Policy makers could announce stimulus packages focused on job creation, social welfare, and food security. Expanding social safety nets like cash transfers and subsidized food programmes could provide immediate relief to the poor.The government may need to take bold steps to restructure corrupt or inefficient economic and financial institutions. Reforms in banking, taxation, and investment policies could be introduced to stimulate growth and restore investor confidence.
Citizens need to express their views freely and that the media operates without undue restrictions are essential for fostering a healthy democratic environment. Any curbs on media or civil society should be lifted to create an atmosphere of transparency and freedom of speech. TOR of different intelligence agencies can be redefined to ensure their independence. Yellow journalism needs to be under constant monitoring so that media can play their due role under democratic environment. The government has been taking this responsibility to introduce reforms in key social sectors to promote long-term stability and prosperity with transparency and accountability. Access to quality education, especially in rural and marginalised areas, would be vital for the country’s long-term development. The government could invest in vocational training and technical education to improve the employability of young people. Investment in technical education should be given as a high priority matter.
Investment in public healthcare system, making it more accessible and affordable for the average citizen is a prime need. This would include investing in health infrastructure and ensuring that essential medicines and services are available to all. It requires district level procurement of all kinds of medicine and equipment instead of Dhaka central procurement of medicine and machineries. It is seen from evidence that central level procurement could encourage corruption in many cases. Governance in all kind of public procurement, all kind of employment in the public post and managing all kind of khas land including forest land, railway land, river bank land etc. are very vulnerable. Thus these three areas are crucial for managing good governance. All steps need to be taken by authority for ensuring good governance in these respective fields by engaging more and more civil society groups. Governance in Transfer and posting of public officers is another area where actually governance does not work. Transfer and posting system of doctors, medical staff and teachers whether transfer system really require any more or not may be reexamined by doctors/ teacher’s professional bodies. Medical university/ private medical colleges or renowned school/ colleges in Dhaka city do not require any transfer of their professionals. Government owned institutions may explore this transfer-less employment for ensuring democratic governance. Transfer/posting of an individual by unilateral decision itself does not go with the spirit of democratic governance.
Inequality sparked unrest, thus better social equity programs are hallmark for democratic governance. Involvement of political parties, civil society, local leaders, and citizen representatives in decision-making processes to rebuild trust is very important for democratic governance. Independent police oversight bodies to investigate allegations of misconduct, corruption, and abuse of power are considered as basics for democratic governance. Body-worn cameras for officers during patrols and operationswill provide evidence of any misconduct and which can be able to deter potential misconduct.
Easily accessible complaint mechanisms such as online redressed mechanism need to be in place and are addressed promptly and transparently. Human rights should be given top priority. Everywhere in every institution, training of human rights and fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution needs to be placed as an inbuilt criterion for public post. Test / examination and passing the test of human rights is to be considered as a fundamental core criterion to remain in the public post. Careful attention needs to be given to the treatment of vulnerable populations like women, children, and minorities.
Introduction of mandatory and transparent asset declarations for politicians, high-level public officials, corporate leaders, business people and their families and monitoring their assets regularly and scrutinise discrepancies are required. For public service delivery, financial transactions, and procurement, embedding e-governance tools to minimise human interaction and reduce opportunities for bribes and favouritism is to be in place. Block chain technology in managing public funds to ensure transparency and accountability and how government budgets and projects are handled is crucial. Real-time tracking of complaints and ensure whistleblower protection for democratic governance is important. Promotion of a culture of ethics and integrity in public and private sectors through values-based education from early childhood to professional training should be tested. Ethical behaviour should be integrated into educational curriculum and be tested.
Corruption in sectors like banking, energy, electricity infrastructure, and education, where large-scale mismanagement of public funds is often reported are to be checked regularly bythird party professional bodies. Banking, financial institutions, insurance, energy, gas, electricity infrastructure, education, and health sector, international purchase like aircraft, rice, wheat and G2G purchase may be placed under double check system with shadow authority from theopposition parties and civil societies jointly. Transparent and accountable shadow system can have a broader impact on the overall governance landscape in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh can now use this outlook to make significant strides toward creating a framework for reducing corruption, improving governance and a more transparent, fair and efficient system for its accountable democratic governance. This requires sustained and expressed will of general citizens, commitment from responsible leaders, constitutional institutions and active engagement from political parties, civil society and the private sector for initiating and implementing real democratic principles, rule of law, transparency, and accountability in every stage of state affairs.