BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury on Sunday warned that any failure to create a democratic, free, fair, and independent environment in the country would be detrimental to all.
“At the end of the day, it will not be good for anyone. This realisation has come to everyone, and there is no reason to ignore it,” he said.
The former minister made the remark during the inauguration of a daylong event celebrating the 30-year journey of the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD).
The programme, titled “Commemorating Thirty Years of CPD,” was held at Brac Inn in Mohakhali, Dhaka.
He said that there has been a significant change in the mindset of people, with a widespread desire for a free and fair society.
About reforms, Khasru said it is a continuous and ongoing process, one that should not be viewed as a one-time fix. “There is some apprehension that certain people will sit down and implement reforms that will set Bangladesh up for the next 50 to 100 years, but I do not agree with that.”
Reforms should be sustainable and must be achieved through public and political consensus, as well as a democratic process, he said, adding: “Any decision should undergo a process of correction and filtration. This should be kept in mind, as the notion that some people will sit down and execute reforms unilaterally is not feasible.”
Khasru pointed out that if the people of Bangladesh do not accept these reforms, they will not be sustainable.
“These reforms must be completed through a democratic process, keeping fundamental principles intact. Democracy is not just about voting once every five years. I don’t accept that view. Everything must be sustainable,” he said.
The former minister also called for continuous accountability, emphasising that holding an election is not enough, and a participatory system involving all stakeholders must be ensured.
He highlighted the erosion of citizens' rights, saying that when the right to vote is taken away, many other rights are lost as well. “Democracy is not just about voting; it’s about daily accountability of an elected government. This has been absent for the last 15 years due to stolen voting rights.”
