An envisioned post-uprising transition from “authoritarian kleptocracy” to democracy is derailed by reform-reactionaries and a section of the bureaucracy, says Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
In its highly critical analysis of the latest situation with declared governance reform, the Bangladesh chapter of the Berlin-based anti-graft agency also says the interim government “surrendered” to such predatory forces.
“The much-desired goal of transitioning from an authoritarian kleptocracy to democracy-envisioned in exchange for unprecedented sacrifices-has been derailed due to the institutionalisation of reform reluctance and bureaucratic dominance in the various legal-and institutional-reform initiatives undertaken by the interim government,” the TIB said Monday.
Additionally, except for a handful of instances, ordinances have been enacted unilaterally without engaging stakeholders.
The Transparency Bangladesh unit, which had a part in working out the reform recipes, made observations at a press conference organised to mark the release of its review titled ‘The Interim Government’s Reluctance to Pursue Reforms in Ordinance Formulation’.
At the press meet held at TIB’s Dhanmondi office, the organisation presented its observations based on a review of eight ordinances adopted by the interim government.
The cardinal reform ordinances are Anti-Corruption Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, Police Commission Ordinance, National Human Rights Commission Ordinance, Public Audit Ordinance, Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance, Cyber-security Ordinance, Personal Data Protection Ordinance, and National Data Governance Ordinance.
The review notes that despite forming 11 reform commissions, a National Consensus Commission, multiple white-paper committees, several reform committees, and a Commission of Enquiry on enforced disappearances-and despite inviting the United Nations to investigate killings and widespread human-rights violations committed by the authoritarian government during the July uprising-the government “has overall failed to initiate the expected level of transparency and qualitative change in the reform process”.
The review report was presented by TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman. The press conference was also attended by TIB Adviser-Executive Management–Professor Dr Sumaiya Khair and Director of Research and Policy Muhammad Badiuzzaman. The press conference was moderated by Director of Outreach and Communication Mohammad Tauhidul Islam. Alleging the surrender to the vested interests of powerful sections of the bureaucracy on the question of reform, Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, “The interim government has failed to resist reform-resistant groups. As a result of surrendering to these forces, many important recommendations have been discarded and numerous reform-contradictory decisions have been taken.”
He added: “Even negative precedents have been created through unjustified violations of the July Charter, which future governments may also follow. In particular, the government’s submission to the subversive vested interests of a section of the bureaucracy has caused the reform agenda to go off track.”
Referring to failure in giving due importance to the recommendations of the ACC Reform Commission, Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, “The most crucial strategic recommendation-the establishment of an independent selection and review committee-for ensuring both the full independence and accountability of the ACC has been deliberately excluded.”
In this regard, the TIB ED told the press that there was no disagreement among the highest authorities of the ACC and, in line with the July Charter, all political parties had reached a consensus without any note of dissent-facts that were well known to both the government and the ACC.
“Those who do not want increased ACC activity to curb bureaucratic, administrative, and political corruption are the ones opposing this reform. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to conclude that the ACC and the interim government have surrendered to a section of bureaucratic power,” he said.
The review also reads that through the enactment of the Police Commission Ordinance, the long-cherished dream of forming a people-oriented force has been completely shattered.
“The ordinance does not even include the terms ‘independent and impartial’. The provision to include the Cabinet Secretary and the Home Secretary in the selection committee instead of citizen representatives, along with granting the government the authority to appoint serving public officials, essentially turns the Police Commission into a resort for the continued abuse of power by the ruling government and retired police and administrative officers.”
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