State's character unchanged despite regime shifts: Dialogue

The fundamental character of the country has remained unchanged despite repeated transitions between military rule, caretaker administrations, and elected governments, speakers said at a policy dialogue organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) today (12 January).

The dialogue, titled "National Security and Law and Order: Challenges of Democratic Governance," brought together politicians, former security officials, diplomats, academics, and civil society representatives, who collectively expressed concern over persistent human rights violations, weak institutions, and declining public trust in law enforcement.

At the outset of the event, CGS President Zillur Rahman said national security cannot be ensured without democracy, warning that human rights abuses in Bangladesh have become 'normalised.' 

He explained that security includes both soft and hard dimensions, with hard security directly affecting citizens' lives, noting that even members of law enforcement agencies remain insecure.

Despite initiatives such as 'Devil Hunt' operations and granting magistracy powers to the army, public insecurity particularly among minority communities has not reduced, he said.

Zillur further said that the upcoming national election poses a 'hybrid security challenge,' where digital threats, misinformation, and disinformation are as critical as physical security of polling centres.

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) M Enamul Haq warned that the Rohingya crisis could emerge as a far greater internal and international security challenge in the coming years. He stressed the need to reform problematic practices surrounding the filing of first information reports (FIRs) and urged journalists to rely on verified and credible sources, given the media's critical role in shaping public perception. 

He also argued against forming multiple commissions, suggesting instead a single accountable body to review past failures.

BNP leader and former lawmaker Zahir Uddin Swapan cited examples from Venezuela, Panama, and Chile to illustrate how external influence and global power politics affect domestic stability, cautioning that future security risks may also arise from artificial intelligence and technological misuse.

Former diplomat Munshi Foyez Ahmed criticised what he described as the government's appeasement of mob pressure, saying state institutions were being weakened by labelling police and bureaucrats as criminals instead of restoring their morale following the July Uprising. 

Expression concern over the border security, he also pointed to strategic weaknesses in foreign policy contributing to border security challenges.

Gono Forum President Advocate Subrata Chowdhury said that although there have been some activities by the police force recently, the overall situation is not satisfactory.

Raising the question of how criminals are crossing the border despite the presence of the BGB, he emphasised that state forces must work in the interest of the people and the state. 

Several speakers questioned the credibility and inclusiveness of the upcoming election, arguing that electoral victories without fairness and public confidence cannot confer legitimacy. 

They emphasised the need for a fear-free environment for citizens to exercise their voting rights and warned that continued politicisation of state forces could trigger deeper crises in the future.

The dialogue concluded with a consensus that meaningful democratic reform, institutional accountability, and respect for human rights are essential to ensuring long-term national security.