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...
The National Consensus Commission is moving towards final decisions on several key reform issues and the political parties will be informed of the decisions by Thursday, said the commission鈥檚 vice-chairman Professor Ali Riaz on Wednesday.
Politicians and civil society members on Saturday said that fascism could return if the next elections were held under the existing political framework without comprehensive state reforms.
President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration said Friday the United States was rejecting changes agreed last year for the World Health Organization on its pandemic response, saying they violated the country鈥檚 sovereignty...
IN A MEETING with the National Consensus Commission held on July 13, all parties included in the process have agreed on the method of appointing the chief justice of the Supreme Court, as well as measures to ensure that the declaration of a state of emergency cannot be misused. The current constitution allows emergency declarations for up to 120 days and requires only...
All the 30 political parties attending the National Consensus Commission鈥檚 second-round dialogue session on Sunday agreed that the president must seek cabinet approval to declare a state of emergency, also involving the main or deputy opposition leader in the decision-making process...
The National Citizen Party on Friday said that demanding polls without the fascist鈥檚 trial and reforms in various sectors is a plot to postpone the national election.
FIVE commissions, out of the 11 that the interim government has instituted to effect reforms in state governance, appear to have largely been sidelined whilst the government appears busy with the six commissions. The six commissions on electoral system reforms, police administrative reforms, judiciary reforms, anti-corruption reforms, public administration reforms and...
The cultural affairs ministry on Monday formed a 19-member committee to bring about quality changes and reforms in Bangla Academy, an autonomous institution under the ministry...
Bangladesh Bank governor Ahsan H Mansur on Monday said that no reform effort in the banking sector will be effective unless political interference is fully eliminated...
THE banking sector has for decades been grappling with persistent challenges that have left it teetering on the edge of credibility. Despite being a vital pillar of the economic growth, the sector remains marred by corruption, poor governance, political interference, and a weak regulatory framework. As a result, public trust has eroded significantly and urgent reform is necessary to prevent a deepening crisis...
REFORMS in the civil service job reservations that students sought, which sparked off protests on July 1, 2024, flared into a mass uprising later that month and toppled the Awami League government on August 5 that year, have worryingly remained unresolved 11 months inside the installation of the interim government. This is unfortunate of the interim government, which...
The dismal prospect for reforms in areas such as governance, elections, administration and power structures, largely because of increasingly polarised positions of political parties, is disheartening. It is understandable that the political parties will not have similar stance on the issues, but drastically polarised stances of the parties disregard the hopes and aspirations that...
Journalists, academics, and political leaders on Thursday called for greater transparency, accountability, and structural reform in Bangladesh鈥檚 media sector to restore public trust in and safeguard press freedom...
WORKER rights in Bangladesh continue to remain unprotected as reported in the most recent Global Rights Index of the International Trade Union Confederation. This is disconcerting. In the index made public on June 2, Bangladesh is ranked among the 10 worst countries with a score of 5, suggesting that the country has no guarantee for worker rights. For nine consecutive...
Commonwealth secretary-general Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said on Tuesday that they were keen to support Bangladesh in political reforms ahead of the planned general election next year.
Civil society members said on Sunday that a national consensus was essential for sustainable reforms in various sectors...
The National Citizen Party on Saturday said that the two student advisers in the interim government had no affiliation with it (NCP).
THE health sector reform report, of all the reforms commission reports, is better poised for a fast implementation, having faced little criticism and barriers as there is almost no contention about the report that recommends steps for the improvement in the health sector. What the authorities now need to do is to set strategic priorities and identify enablers and barriers to...
International Labour Organisation country director for Bangladesh, Tuomo Poutiainen, called for inclusive and sustained labour reforms, with particular focus on employment generation, stronger institutions and protections for marginalised communities and undervalued sectors...
THE health reforms commission in May put forth a set of proposals to transform the healthcare landscape. Major recommendations include the establishment of a permanent, independent health commission, the recognition of primary...
BRIGADIER General (Retd) HRM Rokan Uddin鈥檚 recent call for rethinking Bangladesh鈥檚 defence reforms, published in 抖阴精品, deserves recognition for reigniting a largely dormant strategic debate. His essay presents an aspirational vision for modernising Bangladesh鈥檚 armed forces in a time of shifting global power dynamics, emerging hybrid threats, and evolving...
THE July uprising exposed harsh truth. One of the most painful aspects was that the police, once seen as protectors, become a symbol of repression. The realisation pushed police reforms into the national spotlight, prompting the interim government to establish the police reforms commission, one of the six set up in the early phase of the interim goverment. The recently...
THE recommendations of the health reforms commission, formed on November 18, 2024, in a report submitted to the government on May 5 after missing out its extended deadline of April 30, appear good steps towards ensuring health care as a fundamental right and improving the health services that have so far been in a deplorable condition. The prime among the...
GOVERNMENTS are spending more on social safety nets than ever before, and yet, the struggle against urban poverty feels like it is stuck in the mud. The paradox is hard to ignore: funding goes up, but the poorest people in our cities keep falling through the cracks. The reason? The very laws meant to support them weren鈥檛 built for the urban world they live in now...
BANGLADESH is moving towards holding the 13th parliamentary elections. Although, a specific date for the elections has not yet announced, the chief adviser to the interim government Muhammad Yunus in an address to the nation has said that the...
The labour sector needs comprehensive reforms to ensure worker rights and welfare. The interim government has, however, received recommendations from the labour reforms commission...
THE recommendations that the women鈥檚 affairs reforms commission, set up on November 18, 2024, put forth on April 19 for the government to effect appear assuring in that they are mostly meant to do away with the discrimination that exists in society against women. The commission has made 15 specific recommendations, which include the provision for equal rights...
A SOUND referral and back-referral system in health care potentially has several merits. It can ensure equitable access to specialised health care. It can optimise the use of resources. It can improve patient outcomes. It can also enhance coordination between levels of health care. This is, therefore, a welcome move that the health-sector reforms commission is set to...