From Mass Movement to Reforms: Insights from Bangladesh’s Latest Roundtable Discussion 

Bangladesh is at a pivotal juncture. Recent student-led uprisings are promising to open up shrinking civic spaces over the past 15 years. With the new interim government led by Nobel Laureate Mohammad Yunus, there is a renewed focus on the reforms necessary to address Bangladesh’s challenges.

On September 3, The Asia Foundation, in collaboration with the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) and the Center for Political Studies, arranged a roundtable discussion at Prothom Alo, one of Bangladesh’s leading newspapers. The discussion, titled “Political and Constitutional Reform Proposals for the Establishment of a Democratic Bangladesh,” convened experts, academics, and former officials to discuss reforming the constitution, institutions, and political parties. 

Proposed Reforms:

• Balancing Power Structures: The discussion culminated in ten key recommendations for creating a more balanced distribution of power within the government.
• Creating Institutional Accountability: Proposals included measures to improve transparency and accountability in state institutions and political parties.  
• Enabling Free and Fair Elections: Experts emphasized the importance of a participatory electoral process. 

Key participants included:

• Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury, Chairman of Sonali Bank and former Comptroller and Auditor General
• Tofail Ahmed, local government expert
• Nizamuddin Ahmed, former professor, Chittagong University
• KM Mohiuddin, Jahangirnagar University
• Sabbir Ahmed, Dhaka University
• Farid Uddin Ahmed, former vice-chancellor, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology
• Mohammad Rashed Alam Bhuiyan, assistant professor, Dhaka University
• Harun-or-Rashid Mahadi, Ph.D. candidate, Kent State University
• MD Zakaria, program director, The Asia Foundation

With our 70-year presence in Bangladesh, we have been instrumental in supporting civil society organizations (CSOs) and think tanks to drive reforms and policy dialogues. Despite challenges, we continuously work with local CSOs, academia, and think tanks to ensure inclusive and participatory governance in Bangladesh.