To reform the state, political culture must change

Implementing the desired reforms in Bangladesh is extremely difficult, primarily due to the complexities of political and social realities. The main political parties' reluctance, the influence of vested interests, and the weak social demand play significant roles in obstructing the reform process. Although Bangladesh has taken initiatives for policy reform at various times, these efforts have failed to take structural and effective shape. The existing political culture and the centralized nature of power have become major obstacles to implementing reforms. Since the major political parties in Bangladesh lack internal democracy, they are also disinterested in implementing democratic and governance reforms at the national level. The overwhelming dominance of party leaders, hereditary leadership, and the irregular process of decision-making within political parties are significant barriers to political reform.

Moreover, the elite class connected to power benefits from the current system and thus takes a stand against reforms. Even though political parties promise reforms while in power, they fail to take effective steps for implementation. While in opposition, they use reform demands as a political strategy, which is not realized once they return to power. As a result, there is a clear lack of political will to implement long-term structural changes. Until the mid-80s and 90s, Bangladesh had undertaken several significant economic reforms, which laid the foundation for a market-oriented economy. However, since then, no major structural reforms have been effectively implemented. Political selfishness, bureaucratic complexity, and a lack of commitment to policy reforms have become the main obstacles to implementing reforms.

However, for a country’s sustainable progress, continuous reforms are essential. Although Bangladesh has faced difficulties in implementing the desired economic, political, administrative, judicial, and social reforms, countries in Southeast Asia, such as Vietnam, have achieved significant progress in the economic and social sectors through consistent reforms. On the other hand, in Bangladesh, the reform process has often become stagnant, hindering long-term growth and development. The importance of reform is multifaceted and not limited to economic change alone. It is a comprehensive transformation process that plays a supportive role in improving the country’s social, administrative, judicial, and political systems. To ensure sustainable development in Bangladesh, the reform process must be embraced on a wide scale. If desired reforms are implemented in various sectors, the country’s economic growth will accelerate, and good governance and social justice will be established. Economic reform is one of the most important components of national development. Up until the mid-90s, several reform measures were undertaken, resulting in the development of the private sector, an increase in exports, and an improved investment environment. In particular, the rise of the garment industry and the liberalization of trade policies contributed to dynamic economic growth. However, in recent years, due to the lack of foreign investment, weaknesses in the banking sector, limitations in tax collection, and the absence of business-friendly policies, there is an urgent need for new reforms. To ensure sustainable growth, structural changes in the banking and tax systems are crucial.

Political reform is also of great importance, as the development of democracy, transparency in the electoral system, internal democracy within political parties, and ensuring good governance play an effective role in governance. However, the prevalence of corruption and the unwillingness of political parties to reform have become the greatest challenges in this area. Without political reform, establishing good governance is not possible, and as a result, reforms in other sectors become difficult to implement. Without administrative reform, development activities cannot be accelerated. Improving bureaucratic efficiency, ensuring transparency and accountability, and establishing a digital administrative structure can make government activities more citizen-friendly. Currently, bureaucratic complexity and the lack of transparency are hindering the efficiency of government institutions. Therefore, incorporating modern technology into the administrative framework and taking necessary steps to improve transparency is essential. Judicial reform is crucial for establishing the rule of law in the country. Delay, case backlogs, lack of judicial independence, and corruption in the legal process are major challenges in the judiciary. To ensure swift justice and easy access to legal assistance for the general public, proper policy reforms are necessary. To restore public trust in the judiciary, fast case resolution and judicial independence must be ensured.

Social reform is one of the main pillars of development, which can be achieved through the improvement of education and health sectors, labour market reforms, poverty alleviation, increased social security, and empowerment of women and marginalized communities. Ensuring quality education and healthcare is crucial for the proper development of human resources. At the same time, reducing discrimination in the labor market and expanding opportunities for women and marginalized communities can achieve sustainable and inclusive growth. If economic, political, administrative, judicial, and social reforms are effectively implemented, Bangladesh can move forward on the path to long-term development and prosperity.

However, for these reforms to be implemented, political will, effective policy planning, and active public participation must be ensured. Focusing on only one sector will not yield the desired results, but maintaining a holistic approach to reform will be the key to sustainable development. A significant component in the reform process is public opinion and social demand, which are relatively weak in Bangladesh. Strong social demand for reforms has not yet been well-organized. As a result, the government and policymakers do not feel adequate pressure to take reform initiatives. Although there is citizen dissatisfaction with corruption, incompetence, and the lack of transparency in various sectors, it has not been organized effectively. The active role of the media, civil society, and educated citizens can be crucial in this process. However, due to their lack of effort, there is insufficient pressure on policymakers to push for reforms. For the implementation of reforms, the goodwill of the government or political parties alone is not enough. Active participation from civil society, the neutral role of the media, and the necessity of strong public opinion are required.

At the same time, internal democracy within political parties, increasing administrative transparency, and limiting the influence of vested interests may make the desired reforms possible. Civil society, conscious citizens, and the reform-minded segments within political parties believe that the interim government’s tenure presents an ideal opportunity for reform. They hope that this government will quickly undertake and implement some important reform initiatives. However, resistance from reform-opposing bureaucrats, the lack of a clear roadmap, and the absence of continuous, strong, and unified public pressure in favour of reforms often slow down the pace of these initiatives.

Furthermore, due to the lack of a genuine commitment to reform among political parties, the future of reforms initiated by the interim government becomes uncertain. After returning to power, these parties often halt previous reform initiatives or modify them to align with their political interests, which fails to ensure the continuity of desired reforms. Compared to Bangladesh, Southeast Asian countries, especially Vietnam, have achieved significant development in the economic and administrative sectors through consistent reforms. Growth without reform is not sustainable in the long term. Economic development is not only dependent on increased production or income but also on effective institutions, good governance, and inclusive policies.

If structural reforms are not undertaken, income and wealth inequality may increase, corruption and administrative inefficiency may rise, and the investment climate may become adverse. As a result, although economic growth may be accelerated temporarily, it fails to ensure permanent public welfare. To build an advanced, poverty-free, and equitable society, it is crucial to lay a strong foundation through economic, political, administrative, judicial, and social reforms to ensure justice and good governance for all. Building a sustainable and inclusive society requires reform-oriented political leadership. By learning from the successful reform experiences of Southeast Asian countries, Bangladesh can identify the weaknesses in its economic and administrative sectors and determine the necessary reform paths, which will support the country’s long-term sustainable development.

Raihan Ahmed Tapadar: Researcher and Columnist