End criminalisation in politics: Badiul Alam Majumdar
The end of one regime should not mark the beginning of another cycle of corruption, he says
Highlights:
- Autocratic frameworks remain even after Sheikh Hasina's departure
- One regime's end shouldn't start another cycle of corruption, he warns
- Elections alone cannot end authoritarian rule without reforms
- Failure to implement the July Charter could doom the next government
- Debate for Democracy stresses free and fair elections to safeguard democracy
National Consensus Commission member and SHUJAN secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar has called for ending the criminalisation of electoral and political arenas to ensure good governance and accountability in Bangladesh's democratic process.
He emphasised that vigilance is crucial to prevent corruption from merely changing hands with political power. "Over the past 15 years, we have seen how power acted like a magic wand. Lawmakers, mayors, and chairmen in office amassed enormous wealth; this must stop," he said.
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He made the remarks yesterday at a mock parliament session organised by Debate for Democracy at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC), focusing on the upcoming national elections. The session was chaired by Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron, chairman of Debate for Democracy.
Majumdar warned that although Sheikh Hasina has left office, "the authoritarian legal and institutional frameworks that sustained her regime remain intact." He stressed the need for legal, institutional, and structural reforms to dismantle these frameworks and ensure sustainable democratic governance.
"Without good governance and accountability, elections alone cannot end authoritarian rule," he said, expressing confidence that the current Election Commission will deliver a free and fair election. He further cautioned that failure to implement the July Charter could mirror the fate of the previous administration. The Consensus Commission will recommend that the interim government consider a referendum alongside the national election.
In his presidential address, Kiron described the July Charter as moving "from a silver line to a golden line," signalling unity among pro-democracy forces. He stressed the February national election is crucial for restoring democracy and warned that delays or partisan conflicts could risk the democratic process.
The mock parliament, titled "Only a Free and Fair Election Can Safeguard Democracy," was jointly won by teams from Tejgaon College and Primeasia University, with participants awarded trophies, crests, and certificates.
