Staff Reporter :
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed concerns that holding parliamentary elections without a clear legal and institutional framework for state reform could undermine the objectives of the student-led movement for change.
At a press conference held at the Midas Center on Monday, TIB presented its research findings in a report titled “New Bangladesh: Observations on the First 100 Days After the Fall of the Authoritarian Regime.”
The report highlights the failure to develop timely strategies and roadmaps to implement state reforms and establish a new political settlement – issues that remain unresolved.
TIB also criticised the mismanagement of efforts to prosecute violence during the movement, citing a lack of specific, evidence-based cases.
The widespread filing of hundreds of cases against numerous individuals raises doubts about the possibility of properly prosecuting the main perpetrators.
Speaking on elections, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, head of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Reform Commission and TIB Executive Director, stated, “If elections are held hastily without creating a specific legal and institutional environment for state reform, the student and public movements will fail to achieve their intended goals.”
He also noted that instability surrounding the election timeline is raising questions and urged the interim government to provide clarity on these issues.
Dr. Iftekharuzzaman emphasised that the recent movements were not solely about changing the government but about comprehensive state reform and building a new Bangladesh through political consensus.
“The government must clarify the time required to conduct elections in light of these broader goals,” he added.
TIB’s evaluation of the interim government highlighted both opportunities and challenges.
The findings pointed to a tendency for ad hoc decision-making, a lack of coordinated action planning, and deficiencies in administrative management. Indecision and abrupt policy changes were also noted.
TIB raised concerns over entrenched partisanship, which continues to pose risks to good governance.
It warned against replacing one form of political bias with another, particularly in areas like promotions and postings, where dissatisfaction is evident.
While commending the military’s role in the fall of the authoritarian government, TIB pointed to a failure to fulfil its expected role in maintaining peace and law and order in regions such as the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
TIB observed impatience among some stakeholders, including political parties, with many expressing frustration over the interim government’s activities during its first three months.
A culture of partisanship, extortion, and dominance persists, often leading to internal conflicts within political parties.
The report highlighted the lack of visible initiatives for internal reform within political parties, which it identified as a major obstacle to fulfilling the aspirations for state reform and achieving the goals of the anti-discrimination movement.
Regarding the BNP, TIB noted that while the party initially supported allowing sufficient time for reforms and elections, it later shifted to demanding immediate elections.
TIB expressed grave concerns about threats to media freedom, citing targeted attacks, the closure of multiple media outlets, and the filing of numerous cases against journalists.
Decisions such as the arbitrary cancellation of media accreditation were also criticised for undermining press freedom.
The report raised alarm over deteriorating diplomatic relations with India, attributing this to India’s failure to acknowledge the fall of the authoritarian regime.
TIB warned that these tensions could have adverse consequences for the interim government and the nation as a whole.
While the international community has shown general support for the interim government, TIB cautioned that economic aid, including loans from institutions such as the World Bank, ADB, and IMF, could increase financial burdens due to their conditionalities and high debt repayment costs.
The report criticised the lack of initiatives to reform intelligence agencies such as the DGFI, DB, NSI, and NTMC, which it claimed had contributed to institutionalising authoritarianism, violating fundamental rights, and engaging in extortion.
These agencies were identified as key tools for capturing state institutions, including financial entities.
TIB observed that after the fall of the Awami League (AL) government, top leaders fled, and the party failed to acknowledge its responsibility for corruption, irregularities, money laundering, human rights violations, and suppressing freedom of speech.
The report noted an increasing influence of religion-based politics, with the public activities of groups like Hizb ut Tahrir becoming more visible.
TIB concluded by urging all stakeholders to prioritise reforms and work collaboratively to uphold the aspirations of the anti-discrimination movement and achieve the vision of a reformed state.