Democracy, Rule of Law and Accountability: The Foundations of National Development

The opening of the fourth session of the 13th Parliament with a call for restoring democratic values, the rule of law and institutional accountability deserves serious attention.

Speaker Major (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram has rightly emphasised that meaningful national development is impossible without democracy.

His remarks reflect an important truth: economic progress and political stability cannot be sustained unless democratic institutions function effectively and remain accountable to the people.

Democracy is not merely the holding of periodic elections or the existence of a parliament. It is a system of governance in which public representatives are answerable to citizens, constitutional institutions operate independently, and individual rights and freedoms are protected.

A parliament must therefore serve as more than a platform for government business. It should be an effective forum for debate, constructive criticism and scrutiny of executive decisions.

The restoration of democratic values requires a genuine commitment from both the government and the opposition.

The ruling party must respect parliamentary procedures, tolerate dissent and remain accountable for its actions.

Similarly, the opposition should perform its constitutional responsibilities through constructive criticism and meaningful participation rather than political confrontation for its own sake.

Parliamentary democracy becomes meaningful when different opinions are accommodated and national interests take precedence over partisan considerations.

The rule of law is equally essential. No individual, regardless of political position, social influence or economic status, should enjoy immunity from the law.

An independent judiciary, impartial law-enforcement agencies and an effective administration are indispensable to ensuring justice and public confidence.

Institutional accountability must also extend to public offices, regulatory authorities and organisations responsible for protecting citizens’ interests.

Bangladesh faces enormous challenges, including unemployment, inflation, economic inequality, corruption and institutional weaknesses.

These problems cannot be resolved through development projects alone. They require transparent governance, sound economic management, efficient institutions and public participation.

The Speaker’s remarks should therefore be viewed as a call for collective political responsibility. The government has a special responsibility to translate these principles into practice, while the opposition, civil society and the media must contribute to strengthening democratic accountability.

Bangladesh needs development, but development without democracy cannot ensure lasting prosperity. A democratic political culture, respect for the rule of law and accountable institutions are not obstacles to national progress; they are its essential foundations.

The 13th Parliament has an opportunity to demonstrate this through its conduct and performance.