Referendum on reform proposals 'non-serious' proposition, says Rehman Sobhan
He questions ‘myth’ of political settlement, calls for inclusive rules of the game
Eminent economist and CPD Chairman Rehman Sobhan has characterised the interim government's plan to conduct a referendum on 38 reform proposals as an essentially "non-serious proposition."
Speaking at a conference titled "Rupture, Reform and Reimagining Democracy" at the BRAC Centre Inn in the capital today, Sobhan argued that asking ordinary citizens to provide a "yes" or "no" answer to such complicated and technical reform measures – of which they have little awareness – is an ineffective and opaque way to attempt systemic change.
He further described the current reform initiative as a "cosmetic arrangement," suggesting it may be a move to satisfy specific internal pressures rather than a grounded political reality.
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According to the CPD chairman, reforms are an ongoing process that cannot be finalised by an interim administration in 18 months, as they ultimately require legislation, parliamentary debate, and implementation by an elected government sitting in office for a full term.
He pointed out a significant disconnect in the political landscape, noting that while the interim government pushes for these changes, the major political parties currently campaigning are not discussing the 38 reforms at all.
Sobhan questioned what he described as a long-standing "false narrative" around political settlement in Bangladesh, arguing that no genuine settlement had ever existed and warning that democracy cannot be reimagined without accommodating all key political players.
He said the idea of a past political settlement was misleading, as it failed to produce inclusive rules of the game or prevent prolonged political exclusion.
"If there had been a settlement, you wouldn't have had the BNP in the wilderness for 17 years, you wouldn't have had August 2004, and you wouldn't have had the subsequent monarchy practised by Sheikh Hasina through absolute rule," the CPD chairman said.
He explained that a political settlement requires an understanding among principal actors on the rules of political competition, including a move away from a winner-take-all culture towards an inclusive framework where participation does not carry the risk of imprisonment, disappearance or political elimination.
According to Sobhan, the current challenge lies in identifying the principal political players and finding ways to re-accommodate those capable of disrupting democracy, even if they are controversial or have been deliberately excluded.
"Reimagining a sustainable democracy means identifying those who can disrupt democracy and then finding ways to re-accommodate them within the political system," he said, noting that Bangladesh's political landscape has now expanded beyond two major players.
Criticism of reform process
The CPD chairman was also critical of what he termed a "non-serious" approach to political reform, particularly the expectation that an interim government could meaningfully implement reforms within an 18-month tenure.
"Reform is a process. It has to be legislated, debated in parliament, and implemented by an elected government over time," he said, dismissing proposals for referendums on dozens of complex reform issues as unrealistic and opaque for ordinary citizens.
Sobhan pointed out that despite an ongoing election campaign, none of the major political alliances had prioritised reform in their public messaging.
"The revealed preference of the main players is that no one is talking about reform," he said, adding that the responsibility has instead been placed on academics, NGOs and civil society groups to campaign for reform proposals.
Sobhan argued that reforms only become meaningful when a government elected for a full term demonstrates the sincerity and quality of their implementation.
On civil society and parliament
Reflecting on civil society's role, the CPD chairman said the sector had never functioned as a cohesive or homogeneous force capable of exerting sustained pressure, describing it instead as fragmented and vulnerable to co-option by successive governments.
"Civil society has become silo-driven, shaped by financing dynamics, making individual institutions easier to co-opt or demonise," he said.
Expressing cautious optimism, Sobhan said he hoped Bangladesh could finally witness a peaceful and competitive election followed by a functional parliament with a strong opposition.
"For the first time in 52 or 53 years, we may be able to have a working parliament," he said, emphasising that without a functioning lower house, debates over an upper house were misplaced.
"The real problem is how to make the lower house work. You cannot have a working upper house with a failed lower house," he added.
The conference was organised by the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development.
