TIB criticises alleged govt bus requisition for political event, calls it authoritarian practice

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed concern over allegations of transport buses' requisition by the government for Jatiya Nagorik Committee and Students Against Discrimination to attend the inauguration of the National Citizen Party (NCP) in Dhaka yesterday.

In a statement today (1 March), TIB described the incident as an "imitation of authoritarianism" and stated that the interim government cannot evade responsibility for such an abuse of power.

The organisation also urged the NCP and its supporters to reject authoritarian practices under the banner of a "Second Republic" and a "New Political Arrangement."

The statement, signed by TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman, reads, "The emergence of a new political party led by students, who spearheaded the movement for a 'New Bangladesh' through unprecedented self-sacrifice, could be an important milestone in post-authoritarian Bangladesh.

"People's expectations for new politics, shaped by young leadership with an anti-discrimination consciousness, are immense. To fulfil this expectation, we urge the party to treat this example of bus requisition and its negative impact as a 'red alert' and to avoid such conventional and self-destructive practices in the future."

The statement further reads, "This new political party, formed by students, has the potential to promote positive democratic practices and free the country from the grip of power abuse in zero-sum politics. However, any repetition of past authoritarian practices or abuse of power by the new leadership will create a negative impression and hinder the development of accountability and democratic awareness in the new Bangladesh."

TIB also stressed that the public expects the NCP to act as a catalyst for ending authoritarian dominance in political, representative, and government institutions.

"However, the success of this will depend entirely on how far the new party can distance itself from the long-standing culture of power abuse in the country's politics," the statement concluded.

TIB also called on the interim government to refrain from providing any form of patronage to political groups at any level.