Experts call on caretaker government to be more transparent

Adviser on Environment, Forests, Climate Change and Water Resources Syeda Rizwana Hasan stressed yesterday that freedom, especially the freedom to access justice in a timely manner, should not be taken for granted.

Now that people “can finally talk,” she encouraged them to be constructive, define their goals and listen to each other.

“The path to reform was the path to realizing their dreams,” she said during the dialogue moderated by Zillur Rahman, executive director of CGS.

The Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) hosted a dialogue today at the auditorium of the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS).

The dialogue included guests who spoke out about the persecution of the previous regime and had to face challenges because of their actions.

Prominent figures from all walks of life spoke about the many hardships and discrimination they experienced under the previous regime.

Speakers also focused on the kind of changes and reforms they would like to see in Bangladesh’s future, expressing general concern over the government’s “apparent inaction” in the face of recent social unrest.

During the discussions, the need for greater transparency in the actions of the transitional government and a more inclusive approach was raised.

Zillur began by stating that for 15 years, people had been fighting for their dreams, often doubting whether they would be able to achieve them.

“Many have sacrificed their lives for these dreams. Over the past 15 years, all national institutions have been destroyed and corruption has become endemic,” he said.

“Many resisted the tyranny of authoritarianism in the country and suffered as a result. Among those gathered today were people who fought and suffered. But the fight was far from over,” he added.

Munira Khan said the government needs to be more transparent and take time for proper planning. Its spokespeople should communicate their actions and progress. She expressed hope that the caretaker government will hold free and fair elections.

Kazi Faisal Bin Seraj noted that the shrinking of civic space is creating an information vacuum, which makes non-conventional media increasingly important.

He noted that when he started working in Bangladesh, the economy was good, but now there were questions about why non-governmental and civil society organizations were not doing enough.

He stressed that it is crucial to understand the restrictive legal environment in which they operate.

Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, head of the Electoral Reform Commission and secretary of SHUJAN, stressed that citizens must seize the opportunity that is opening before them.

He stressed on the importance of everyone playing their part, otherwise the dream, spirit and expectations will remain incomplete. He shared that he and his family were discriminated against by both the Awami League and BNP governments.

Still, he saw today as a remarkable opportunity and stressed the importance of unity and checks and balances to prevent abuse of power.

Didarul Islam Bhuiyan, a member of the DSA Victims Network, has recounted how he was arrested after he posted on social media about irregularities in relief funds during the COVID-19 lockdown.

He was interrogated for seven hours, accused of treason and conspiracy without evidence. He asked why the DSA cases had not yet been dismissed, arguing that these “black laws” used to suppress people should be transferred to a museum.

Pritom Das, member of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, shared his experience of being falsely accused of hurting religious sentiments.

He was later arrested because of his political activism and social media posts and spent five months in prison. He recounted how the communal violence in the region affected him, leading to social isolation as even friends and relatives stopped contacting him.

Rezaul Karim Rony, editor-in-chief of Joban, highlighted the unrest in both the hills and the plains, pointing out that many people still behave like fascists despite having lived under fascism for so long.

He called for true independence for the people and questioned what kind of independence they really wanted. He shared his disappointment with the mainstream media, recounting an experience when he translated a significant report against a former prime minister, only to find that no one else in the media dared to publish it.

Major Rezaul Karim, a former military officer who was dismissed from service for political reasons, recounted his experiences during BDR killings while he was stationed at RAB.

He and his companions were denied permission to operate and were later branded a terrorist, blindfolded and interrogated. He spent five years in prison and insisted that he had been wronged.

Michael Chakma, an organizer of the United People’s Democratic Front, said he was kept in darkness for five years after his kidnapping.

He highlighted the inhumane treatment he had suffered and questioned whether his crime was defending the political rights of his people.

He called for a solution for the mountainous areas that did not involve military rule.

U Mimi Marma, special correspondent for IPNEWS BD, spoke from the perspective of a student and an indigenous person.

She highlighted the ongoing violence and lack of justice for indigenous people, especially in the Khagrachari region, and expressed her frustration and hope that justice would prevail in the new Bangladesh.

Kalpana Akter, executive director of the Bangladesh Centre for Workers Solidarity, recounted how her work on labour rights was often suppressed, leading to surveillance, interrogation and labelling her a foreign agent.

She appealed to journalists to pursue the truth, even if it is difficult.

Khadijatul Kubra, a student at Jagannath University, has written about her experience of being arrested under the DSA, which put her education and life on hold for a long period. Now that she has finally been able to speak out again, she expressed her desire to work with others who have experienced discrimination.

Umama Fatema, coordinator of the Student Anti-Discrimination Movement, appreciated the contribution of the people of Bangladesh in overthrowing the regime of Sheikh Hasina and spoke about the sense of power and ownership that female students experienced during the protests.

Mamun Abdullah, the outreach coordinator of the Student Anti-Discrimination Movement, recounted how he was unable to stay in university hostels due to pressure and surveillance by the Chhatra League.

He expressed disappointment over the lack of consensus on human dignity in the country and warned that the revolutionary spirit of the 2024 mass uprising may not manifest itself again unless real reforms are implemented.