POLITICAL parties appear to have made little or no progress in within-the-party practice of democracy or reforms in that direction whilst the government has been busy forging means to effect democratic reforms in state governance by holding dialogues with the political parties. Some political parties have even appeared to be rhetorical about such a democratic practice. It has been a year since the July uprising, which toppled the authoritarian regime of the Awami League that is blamed for having degraded the sound political culture. It has also been a year of the interim government, which was installed on August 8, 2024, three days after the overthrow of the Awami League government, with hopes for means to walk towards a meaningful democracy. The interim government has so far held a series of discussions with the political parties to find ways for the transition to a true democratic dispensation with the aim of forging a consensus of the political parties so that no government in future could end up being authoritarian. Yet, the political parties have not largely yet heeded the wake-up call for meaningful in-party reforms.
Leaders of some parties say that they have initiated reforms. But most observers say that the initiatives are minimal, symbolic, limited or rhetorical. And, no effective reforms within the parties would cast doubts on the broader democratic reforms, which would put democracy at bay. Political parties are said to have been highly centralised, dominated by top leaders, and lacking in transparency, accountability and a democratic selection of leaders. Experts view that without internal democracy, no political party can credibly promote a democratic dispensation as concentration of powers in the parties suppresses internal dissent and undermines grassroots participation. An expert is reported to have said that there are three critical areas for reforms within the parties. They are a democratic process for the selection of leaders, a greater involvement of people in the party grassroots and a full disclosure of the party鈥檚 funding and expenditure. Even politicians that 抖阴精品 has spoken to say that a genuine democratic government would need the practice of democracy within the political parties. Without in-party democracy and moral integrity, political parties could not support or effect democratic reforms of the state. And, the practice of democracy would need to take place in all political parties, old and new, because systemic changes would require a collective political will.
A single party would not be able to bring about the reforms the democratic transition from the old to the new order demands. The political parties should, therefore, initiate in-party reforms for a meaningful order of the state in the changed political context.