Do the reform committees need reform?
The reform committees created by the interim government lack inclusivity. The Business Standard reached out to academics and human rights activists to talk about what can be its impact and possible remedies.
The Dr Yunus-led interim government has recently constituted six commissions to reform the public administration, Anti-Corruption Commission, judiciary, police, constitution and electoral system. These committees have been tasked with coming up with recommendations for reforming the country.
However, the committees created in the spirit of the anti-discrimination movement have come under scrutiny for their lack of inclusivity. There are no members in the committees who belong to religious or ethnic minorities. There are only five female members, who make up around 9% of the total membership. The Business Standard reached out to academics and human rights activists to talk about what can be the impact of this lack of inclusivity and possible remedies.
'Stronger groups may not notice the struggles of weaker ones'
Anu Muhammad
Economist
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This government has made a promise to create an inclusive Bangladesh, one that is free from inequality. There is a vision to build a new Bangladesh, but to achieve that, we must be highly vigilant in ensuring representation for all groups.
Bangladesh is not just a country for Bengalis. While Bengalis may be the majority, we also have people from other religions, ethnicities, and communities. Women represent an essential demographic, and beyond the binary of men and women, there are other genders. The diversity in Bangladesh is our strength, and it plays a critical role in our nation's identity.
The government should focus closely on this diversity and make sure that all voices are represented. Without proper representation, many groups will remain unheard. The majority may overlook the needs and rights of minority groups. Stronger groups may not notice the struggles of weaker ones. As a result, many problems will go unaddressed, and there will be gaps in policy-making. Decisions made without diversity in perspective often fail to capture the real issues on the ground.
To address this, the government should increase the inclusion of people from different ethnic, religious, and gender backgrounds. This can still be done by adding more members to commissions and initiatives. It's a simple solution—just bring in new voices so that everyone can work together towards a better Bangladesh.
The economist talked to TBS' Miraz Hossain over the phone
'If the process is wrong, there will be questions about the outcome'
Dr Amena Mohsin
Professor, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka
The July movement was against discrimination, so from that perspective this is not acceptable. We need the committees to be inclusive. There must be representation from other religions and ethnic groups.
When we are talking about being anti-discrimination, there should not be such little female representation. There needs to be a substantial representation of women as well. Only 9% female membership is baffling.
The motivations behind the movement was anti-discrimination and the fact that we were not being able to speak out. Weren't they?
I being a Bangali Muslim cannot voice the concerns of the minorities. Only the people who are experiencing the grievances, can really voice them. It is not like there is a shortage of such qualified individuals.
You are asking me if there will be a negative impact due to the lack of inclusivity. The lack of representation itself is a negative thing. If the process itself is wrong, there will be questions about the outcome. We have a position on anti-discrimination, voice creation, and freedom of speech, so I am quite surprised.
The academic talked to TBS' Miraz Hossain over the phone
'This can definitely be called an injustice'
Philip Gain
Human Rights activist
This can definitely be called an injustice. Out of 55 members, there are only five women and no representation of minorities or other marginalised groups? In this country, minorities make up over 10% of the population, and according to government statistics, indigenous people represent around 1%, though in reality, they are slightly more than that. So how can it be that there's no minority or indigenous representation? This is unacceptable!
These reform commissions will analyse some major issues, but there could have been more commissions. For instance, a commission related to development could have been formed. I believe the Constitutional Reform Commission should have had much broader representation.
Take the indigenous communities for example—they don't have clear constitutional recognition. Sometimes they are called "ethnic groups," sometimes "indigenous," but in Bangladesh, they face many difficulties. Women, minorities, and marginalised communities live under greater insecurity in this country. In this context, only five women and no minorities? This cannot be justified. It's not right at all.
The government can still reconsider this and create more representation. There needs to be more female representation, and minority and indigenous groups should have their voices heard here.
I have a comment regarding these commissions. Apart from the ones that have been formed, there could have been two or three more commissions—for instance, one to analyse the economic situation or another to resolve minority issues. If 10% of Bangladesh's population belongs to minority groups and they feel insecure, there could have been a dedicated commission for them. Even if there isn't, it would have made perfect sense for them to be represented in the existing commissions, which they are not.
The activist talked to TBS' Miraz Hossain over the phone.
