From the language movement in 1952, the Liberation War in 1971, to several movements that followed; time and again, the people of Bangladesh have been successful in making their voices be heard. Whether it be through directly participating in active politics, getting involved in mass movements or simply engaging in political conversations at social gatherings, it has hardly been possible to keep political affairs out of peoples’ minds.
Therefore, it would be quite unfortunate, if such enthusiasm is not given a platform to get involved in the complicated yet crucial process of governance.
At first glance, it could seem quite unlikely and impractical that people in positions of power would be interested to engage with common people, especially when it comes to governance. Over the years, many have continued to express that they feel like there is a barrier between the masses and the political elite. The idea is that the political establishment has a disregard for the opinions of the common folk, and that they will not be genuinely approving of reform as it often conflicts with powerful special interest groups. Although this assumption is mostly a result of mistrust and frustration towards the political arena, as well as the state institutions that impact governance, it is only partially true.
There are examples of organizations operating in various parts of the world, which have been actively working with political parties and important policy-makers across the political spectrum. Over the years, organizations which advocate for policy reforms have continued to enable young people to contribute towards statecraft and governance.
Even young students, who are yet to join the workforce, have been given a platform to carry out relevant research work, based on the public policy of various sectors. This has enabled them to come up with effective policies and advocate for their implementation. It will probably take time for such a culture to develop in our country’s governance. However, if there is a long-term vision, effective steps and measures can take us a long way.
Not only can policy advocacy be used as a tool to upgrade the quality and efficiency of governance, but it can also help in building bridges between policy makers and the ones who are most affected by their decisions. After all, people having their say in governance is the essence of representative democracy. Such a system can only function efficiently if common people are kept involved consistently and on a long-term basis, instead of just during election cycles.
This process can therefore aid elected representatives to uphold the will of the people.
For a long time, there has been a severe lack of youth representation in our government. Bangladesh is a country where a significant percentage of the population is under the age of thirty. This indicates that youth empowerment is a key element for genuinely representing the people of our country. Therefore, policy advocacy can be used as a tool to strengthen governance, empower the youth and enhance peoples’ representation.
Ideally, the core ideology and belief system of an organization is supposed to be in common. However, any political organization will have people with different ideas, perspectives, and belief systems. Regardless of whether one supports or agrees with a large organization in general, they will probably agree that such a large group will always consist of some people who are open to new and reformative ideas.
Political organizations have countless affiliates at both the local and national level. Therefore, there is an opportunity to find individuals, who possess the will and potential to bring significant change, in various areas of governance. This process is mutually beneficial, as the extremely busy leaders will have access to young research support.
On the other hand, participants will get the invaluable experience of working with significant policy makers. The key is to identify people who are willing to cooperate and make the appropriate connections. If this is done, expectations can only be exceeded as there are plenty of people who are open to new ideas, which is quite contrary to popular belief.
In the context of today’s Bangladesh, these concepts are both relatively new and quite ambitious. Just like any other, these ideas have shortcomings and limitations of their own. There are plenty of obstacles ahead. Boundaries and obstacles are something we have learned to overcome every day as a nation, as a people. That has been the essence of Bangladesh’s journey over the decades.
Hopefully, we will live to see a day when the political participation of the youth is a common theme. A time when policy advocacy will be considered mainstream in our country. A time when people can directly participate in the process of governance. Until then we must continue to strive, for the purpose of a Bangladesh better served.
Sharar Mubarrat Chowdhury is an undergraduate student in Economics and International Development at the University of Sussex.