Press Release:
Showing respect for the core message of the student and people’s movement, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) called for a comprehensive overhaul of the state structure to ensure transparency, accountability, justice, and human rights, with the goal of creating a corruption-free, democratic, and well-governed “New Bangladesh.” The organization submitted recommendations to the interim government, focusing on nine strategic areas essential for state reform. These recommendations emphasize the need for radical changes in public representation, government, and administrative systems and practices, ensuring that the state is governed with proper accountability and by the will of the people. To prevent the emergence of a new regime influenced by authoritarian and partisan interests after the fall of the autocratic government, TIB’s recommendations address nine strategic issues crucial for preventing corruption and establishing democracy, good governance, and justice.
TIB made specific strategic recommendations on- democratic practice; rule of law and human rights; prevention of corruption, irregularities and money laundering; constitutional, statutory, government and autonomous institutions; civil society and media; right to information and protection of personal data; local government; banking sector; power, energy and environment. At a press conference, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman emphasized that to ensure a free, fair, impartial, and participatory election, a non-partisan interim government should be established for the National Parliamentary Election. In order to ensure citizen representation in the national parliament, he also urged for the setting up of a proportional representation parliamentary system. However, the parliamentary election should be held only after the achieving the goal of state reformation, as mandated by the student and popular uprising. Political parties must include at least one-third youth representatives in their election nominations. Additionally, TIB recommended provisions for the removal and re-election of public representatives through a no-confidence motion where applicable.
TIB also recommends that the same person shouldn’t be the Head of Government (Prime Minister), Party Leader, and Leader of Parliament at the same time. This is to make sure that the work of the Parliament and the Executive is fair and free of conflicts of interest. Furthermore, the same individual should not serve as Prime Minister for more than two terms. TIB also advocates for completing the process of separating the Judiciary from the Executive in line with the Masdar Hossain case judgment to uphold the rule of law and human rights. To ensure the independence and dignity of the Judiciary, TIB recommends establishing and operating a fully empowered secretariat under the sole authority of the Supreme Court. This secretariat would have overall control and supervision over the appointment, promotion, and transfer of judges in both the High and Subordinate Courts.
After the fall of the country’s long-time authoritarian government, which came at the cost of unprecedented bloodshed and sacrifice, there is now the opportunity for the interim government to create an environment conducive to build a transparent, accountable, corruption-free, and non-discriminatory state structure, said TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman.” The interim government formed based on the “doctrine of necessity” and the people’s aspirations. In order to fulfil this expectation, we hope that the interim government would uphold the original spirit and message of the student movement, working with all those concerned in rebuilding a new Bangladesh. If our political culture does not change, no amount of talk about state reform or a new Bangladesh will bring it to fruition. Changing individuals or merely reforming institutions is not enough. It must be remembered that those who have actively involved in politics this time around are partly responsible for the culture of undermining people’s right to vote. If they do not move away from this culture and continue to seek power at any cost, clinging to it with the mentality of “it is our turn,” then the dream of the student movement will remain elusive,” he added.
In response to a question from journalists about the repatriation of laundered money to the country, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, “We propose forming a task force consisting of the ACC, CID, National Board of Revenue, and BFIU to work together on this issue. During authoritarian regimes, these institutions failed to fulfill their responsibilities because those involved in money laundering were in power. However, it is certainly possible to recover laundered money by following due process and to identify and prosecute those involved. The repatriation of laundered money is achievable under both national and international laws. The roadmap for this is in the hands of the relevant institutions. For example, in 2013, money smuggled to Singapore by a powerful individual was successfully brought back to the country through a process that began in 2007. The process has now become smoother and more efficient.”
To investigate and ensure exemplary punishment for those involved in extrajudicial killings, disappearances, and other human rights violations, as well as irregularities, corruption, and abuse of power- particularly within law enforcement agencies and during events such as the student movement- TIB recommended streamlining these agencies (Police, RAB, Intelligence Organizations) and administrations to free them from partisan influence. Additionally, TIB emphasizes that students seek due process of law, not mob justice, and calls for an immediate halt to any activities that undermine the judicial process. TIB also recommends creating an environment that supports the independent functioning of all constitutional and statutory institutions, with a permanent cessation of partisanship in the appointment of their heads and members. Furthermore, TIB advises the dissolution of all professional, specialized, and service-based organizations and associations with party affiliations, including those in education, health, business, media, and the legal profession, and their replacement with non-partisan organizations to protect the rights and interests of the professionals involved.
TIB has highlighted a number of concerns that need to be addressed right away in its proposed recommendations: ensuring law and order, public safety, and administrative normalcy; establishing nationally and internationally recognized accountability- directly involving the United Nations for those responsible for widespread human rights violations, including significant loss of life; restoring normal economic activity; and creating a task force consisting of ACC, BFIU, NBR, CID, and the Attorney General’s office to set an exemplary precedent for effective accountability in cases of high-level corruption and money laundering. These strategic recommendations are meant to assist the interim government in creating the essential framework for state reform in order to comprehend the objectives and vision of a “New Bangladesh.”
TIB submitted these recommendations on 25 August to the full advisory council, including the Chief Advisor to the Interim Government, highlighting nine strategic areas for necessary reforms in the state structure. At the press conference held today to discuss these recommendations, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman was present alongside Advisor to the Executive Management of TIB, Professor Sumaiya Khair, Director of Research and Policy Division Muhammad Badiuzzaman, Senior Research Fellow Shahzada M. Akram, and Md. Julkarnayeen. The press conference was moderated by Mohammad Tauhidul Islam, Director of the Outreach and Communication Department of the organization.
