Lack of equal protection under law erodes citizens’ trust: Debapriya
Citizens' trust in the state suffers when they do not receive equal protection under the law and the rule of law is not properly enforced, said Debapriya Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).
He said the legitimacy of a country's democratic system, the rule of law and the quality of public services provided to citizens are all directly linked to building public trust. Trust also weakens when the state fails to provide essential services, including security, healthcare, education and environmental protection.
Debapriya made the remarks at a discussion titled "The Democracy Conversation: Rebuilding Trust in an Age of Polarization" at the Bay of Bengal Conversation 2026 in the capital.
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He said the rule of law, alongside democracy, is another key foundation of people's trust in the state.
"If citizens do not receive equal protection under the law, their trust in the state declines," he said.
Debapriya said the rule of law is not simply about having laws or enforcing them; it is also important whether citizens receive equal treatment and protection from the state.
Linking the quality of public services to trust, he said ensuring basic services such as security, healthcare, education and environmental protection is an important responsibility of the state. When these services are not provided properly, the relationship of trust between citizens and the state becomes weaker.
He said trust is important in all spheres of society, the economy and communication. A relationship of trust between the state and its citizens is also essential for a country's economic and social progress.
During the discussion, Debapriya also highlighted the global crisis of trust alongside Bangladesh. He said political polarisation is increasing in different countries, while public trust in institutions is declining. This is also affecting democratic institutions.
The Democracy Conversation was also attended by Shruti S Patnaik, a research fellow at India's Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses; former Mali prime minister Moussa Mara; former Latvian parliament member Sergejs Potapins; former Malaysian minister Dzuraida Kamaruddin; and Nepali journalist Bishwas Baral.
