Political parties reform key to ensuring good governance: Experts
Staff Reporter :
Experts have stressed that reforming political parties must take priority over state reform to ensure transparency, accountability and good governance in Bangladesh.
The view was expressed at a policy dialogue organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) on Saturday at the CIRDAP Auditorium in the capital, ahead of the upcoming national election.
Titled “Transparency, Accountability, and Governance Mechanisms”, the event brought together policymakers, political leaders, academics, civil society members and governance specialists. Speakers warned that without internal democracy and accountability within political parties, meaningful state reform would remain elusive.
CGS President Zillur Rahman, in his opening remarks, said governance debates often focus solely on administrative reforms while ignoring the political foundations of transparency and accountability.
“These issues shape how power is exercised, how citizens’ rights are protected and how accountable the state remains to the people,” he said, adding that political parties must demonstrate commitment through action rather than election-time rhetoric.
He further noted that partisan influence tends to increase after elections, undermining public trust in state institutions, including the judiciary.
BNP Vice Chairman Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon questioned the neutrality of the current political system and emphasised the strict enforcement of dual citizenship laws. “Transparency must begin with oneself,” he said, calling for self-accountability among political actors.
Former BNP lawmaker Nilufar Chowdhury Moni expressed concern over governance standards, citing loan defaulters and the lack of transparency in candidates’ affidavits. “If lawmakers lack integrity, the future of governance is worrying,” she said.
BASAD General Secretary Bazlur Rashid Firoz criticised the absence of asset disclosures by advisers to the interim government, stressing that transparency must be ensured from the highest levels. He also raised concerns over undisclosed agreements and minority security.
Economist Dr Selim Jahan highlighted the importance of judicial independence alongside transparency and accountability, stating that accountability must begin at the top. “An elected government belongs to the entire country, not to a political party,” he said, calling for equal application of the law and responsible media freedom.
Former NBR chairman Dr Muhammad Abdul Majid said repeated failures to implement election manifestos have eroded public trust. He pointed to stalled initiatives on lawmakers’ asset disclosure and raised concerns over minority voting rights.
Advocate Subrata Chowdhury argued that reforming political parties is a prerequisite for broader governance reform. “If political parties lack transparency and accountability, how can these values be ensured in society?” he asked.
Dhaka University professor Shahidul Islam Zahid identified conflicts of interest and excessive centralisation of power as major obstacles to transparency, while Barrister Nasreen Sultana Mily questioned why recommendations from reform commissions remain unimplemented.
Former secretary AKM Abdul Awal Majumder emphasised the need for merit-based recruitment and independent officials, warning that governance would not improve without institutional integrity.
Other speakers highlighted gaps between laws and their enforcement, declining ethical standards, weak political will and growing public concern over the credibility of elections.
CGS Executive Director Parvez Karim Abbasi said successive governments lose interest in reform after assuming power, citing growing corruption and declining public confidence. “What we see today is zero accountability, zero transparency and zero governance,” he said.
