CA's team, bureaucracy failed to carry forward his reform ambitions: Debapriya

Highlights

• Yunus's reform push failed to carry forward
• Reforms must continue in next govt's manifesto
• Crony capitalism turned system into plunder
• Easier to plan reforms than to implement

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus's reform ambitions and economic vision have failed to gain momentum as his associates and the bureaucracy could not carry them forward, said Debapriya Bhattacharya, a distinguished fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD)

"Despite the chief adviser's enthusiasm in introducing reforms — from drafting an economic white paper to forming task forces — the initiatives have not progressed as expected," he told reporters after a regional pre-election consultation meeting organised by the Citizen's Platform to draft a "Citizen's Manifesto" in Sylhet this afternoon (23 October).

Debapriya stressed that future election manifestos must include the reform commitments already made, ensuring that the next government upholds their continuity. "To build a new Bangladesh and take it toward middle-income status, these reforms are indispensable."

Debapriya Bhattacharya, a distinguished fellow at the CPD, speaks at a regional pre-election consultation meeting of the Citizen's Platform organised by the CPD in Sylhet on 23 October 2025. Photo: TBS

"Not everything can be achieved by this government," he said, adding, "The government must clarify which reforms it has implemented, which are ongoing, and what remains unfinished — and the manifesto should clearly guide how to carry those forward."

Earlier, during the open discussion session of the regional consultation, representatives from various political parties, as well as social and cultural sectors, also shared their views.

Presenting the keynote paper, Debapriya stated that Bangladesh has witnessed mostly visible or physical development in the past — such as constructing school and college buildings — without improving the quality of teachers or students.

He claimed that during the tenure of the previous governments, a particular group had benefited from this kind of "visible development", helping establish a "crony capitalist economy" in the country.

"In such capitalism, a handful of beneficiaries — or 'cronies' — turned the system into one of plunder and corruption, using the state's structure for their own benefit. These groups have always resisted reform," he added.

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"Formulating reforms is easier than implementing them," the economist said, urging that those who will lead the country in the future must be genuinely committed to reform.

He further said the current government is an interim one, but this period is a time of transition — a transformation we must advance through."

Speaking at the event, Prof Mustafizur Rahman said, "Past political parties made many promises but failed to deliver. Yet, we remain hopeful. Our future will not mirror our past. We went through a major transformation in July last year."

He added that CPD will compile the opinions gathered in such consultations into a comprehensive "citizens' manifesto."