Experts for legal, constitutional reforms to prevent return of injustice, corruption

Experts at a dialogue today laid emphasis on legal and constitutional reforms to prevent the return of injustice, corruption, and authoritarianism to the country.

They called for the publication of a white paper detailing how human rights were curtailed through technology in Bangladesh over the past 15 years.

They made the observation at the dialogue titled “Challenges and Recommendations for Interim Government” at a city hotel.

Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) organised the event following the formation of the interim government after student movement and mass uprising.

Dr Mushtaque Raza Chowdhury, Convenor of Bangladesh Health Watch and Former Vice Chairperson, of BRAC, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Country Director of The Hunger Project-Bangladesh and Khushi Kabir, Member of CPD Board of Trustees and Coordinator of Nijera Kori and A K M Fahim Mashroor, Chief Executive Officer of Bdjobs.com Limited were present as panellists at the dialogue.

Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow of CPD, moderated the session.

Dr Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of CPD, chaired the session.

In his speech, Badiul Alam Majumdar called for legal and constitutional reforms to prevent the return of injustice, corruption, and authoritarianism.

He recommended that political settlement or compromise is necessary to implement these reforms.

AKM Fahim Mashroor said, “In an independent country, why am I not able to use technology freely?”

He emphasised the disclosure of all types of software used to violate human rights and civil rights, adding, “A white paper is necessary to detail how human rights and civil rights have been curtailed.”

Mashroor alleged that technology has been misused in the disbursement of funds.

Hams Mahmud, managing director of Shasha Denims Limited and director of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), also spoke at the event.

He demanded that those involved in looting within the banking sector must be held accountable and prevented from fleeing the country.

“These individuals must be brought to justice,” he said.

Mahmud further accused the chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) of leading as looters, alleging that he turned the NBR into a marketplace for bribes.

Selim RF Hussain, managing director of BRAC Bank and president of the Association of Bankers Bangladesh, said, “The banking sector is in a far more fragile condition than you are aware of. There are many more names involved in corruption that you do not yet know.”

“They tell me to sign and do as they say, claiming they know better than I do,” he added.

Hussain also stated that the information provided about non-performing loans and capital shortfalls in the banking sector is false.

“The situation is much worse than reported, and it will be extremely difficult to revive this sector,” he said.

He further mentioned that the entire banking sector has been designed to support corporate entities, leaving small and medium enterprises deprived. (BSS)