Interim govt has 'effectively surrendered to bureaucracy': TIB

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has alleged that the interim government has failed to implement meaningful reforms and has instead "effectively surrendered to the bureaucracy", raising concerns over eight reform-related ordinances enacted by the administration.

"Whatever initiatives have been taken in the name of reform have, in almost all cases, missed the mark at the implementation stage. The interim government has effectively surrendered to the bureaucracy," TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said at a press conference today (12 January). 

The media briefing titled "Reform aversion in the interim government's ordinance-making" was held at the organisation's Dhanmondi office in Dhaka, according to Samakal.

"Why this surrender happened, and where the weakness lies, are the key questions. But I do not have a definitive answer, as I have no direct experience of how decisions are made inside the government," he added. 

At the briefing, TIB presented its observations on eight ordinances, including those related to the Anti-Corruption Commission (Amendment), Police Commission, National Human Rights Commission, government audit, revenue policy and management, cyber security, personal data protection, and national data governance.

In its overall assessment, the anti-graft watchdog said there was no clear strategy in selecting sectors or institutions for reform. 

It noted that several critical areas, such as education, agriculture, and private enterprise, had been left out without explanation. 

TIB also pointed out that, except for the decision on a referendum, no concrete roadmap had been formulated to implement the recommendations of reform commissions.