Govt must do reforms before polls: Speakers

The interim government must complete some important reforms, especially in the constitutional bodies, before holding the next general election, speakers told a roundtable on Thursday.

However, it would not be appropriate to take a long time for reforms, which are an ongoing process, they observed.

The Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), a leading local think tank, hosted the event under the banner 'Dialogue for Democratic Reconstruction of Constitutional Bodies' at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies.

Addressing the roundtable, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, secretary of Shujan and head of the Electoral System Reform Commission, said, "We need some important reforms. I hope the politicians and the government will be able to reach a consensus over reforms. There is no alternative to this."

The process through which appointments to constitutional positions were made during the Awami League regime was a major reason for the rise of fascism in the country, he added.

"So, the appointing system of constitutional bodies must be changed for the democratic reconstruction," opined Dr Mazumdar, adding: "Laws, rules and regulations will also need to be changed to this effect."

Dr Muhammad Abdul Mazid, former chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), said, "Discrimination was created in every sphere of society. It must be removed by reforms."

Appointment and control of constitutional positions, especially Chief Justice, Election Commission, Public Service Commission, and Comptroller and Auditor General, must be held independently. Appointments to these positions should not be held by a so-called search committee.

Dr Mazumdar further said, "We must clear the difference between the state and the government. The government should not occupy the state."

Centre for Policy Dialogue executive director Dr Fahmida Khatun said, "The July-August uprising was rooted in an economic crisis. The students started their movement demanding reforms in the job-quota system as there was not enough employment opportunity."

"We raised our voice over the crisis in different times. Adequate opportunities were not created in the job market as the country's investment situation was not improved. Even, the interim government couldn't take any visible step to remove the crisis."

"There is no controversy about reforms in the country. However, you cannot say that election would be held after completing all reforms. This is an unrealistic idea. Reform is an ongoing process," added Dr Fahmida.

"It is, therefore, that the interim government should hold some reforms and they only need to ensure that the remaining reforms will continue."

Retired diplomat M Shafiullah, CGS chairman Munira Khan and executive director Zillur Rahman, BNP chairperson's adviser Zahir Uddin Swapon, former district judge Ikteder Ahmed, advocate Subrata Chowdhury, barrister Shihab Uddin Khan, political analyst Dr Zahed Ur Rahman and Gonosanghati Andolon coordinator Zonayed Saki, among others, also spoke at the event.