Despite a clear national consensus for the upcoming national election, the persistent public apprehension regarding the capacity to hold a credible and fair election has not been dispelled, said Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue, yesterday.
Speaking after a regional pre-election consultation meeting of the Citizen's Platform at a hotel in the port city, Debapriya, the platform's convener, stressed that the government and the Election Commission must work to remove this apprehension and ensure a widely acceptable election based on maximum public participation.
Participants, including citizens, teachers, researchers, lawyers, businesspeople, and political representatives from across Chattogram, demanded good governance, accountability, the rule of law, and a robust and independent judiciary.
They noted that despite the recent movement and calls for wide-ranging institutional reforms, there has been no significant discussion or push for internal reform within political parties ahead of the election. Debapriya emphasised that the key to accountability lies with the citizens, who must take a bold and proactive role rather than solely relying on politicians or the government.
The economist observed a positive shift in political understanding, where parties realise they cannot get away with major injustice or misrule. The Citizen's Platform plans to announce its Reform Watch on December 14 and present a Citizen Manifesto prioritising grassroots opinions to political parties on December 20.
During the open discussion, Ali Akbar, director of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association, argued against bringing in foreign operators for two Chattogram port terminals while insisting that terminals requiring foreign expertise be leased through competitive international tender. Addressing the port issue, Debapriya remarked that good work should not be done in a hurry and expressed surprise at the rush.
Professor Mostafizur Rahman, a Citizen's Platform fellow, questioned the political leadership regarding whether the fear of public consequences has truly entered their hearts after the recent major movement.
Why it matters
Public apprehension regarding the credibility of upcoming elections highlights ongoing governance challenges and the need for institutional reforms in Bangladesh.