Election becoming an inevitable process in country: Debapriya

RAJSHAHI, Nov 15: Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya has said that national elections in Bangladesh are gradually becoming an inevitable process.

"The upcoming polls will be timely, participatory and credible, ultimately contributing to the country's future transformation," he made the remarks on Saturday after a regional consultation meeting organised by the Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, in Rajshahi as part of its pre-election civic engagement initiative.

Representatives from various professional and social groups in the region took part in the dialogue.

Speaking to journalists, Dr Debapriya noted a shift in public engagement. "Today's (Saturday) dialogue clearly shows that citizens are no longer silent listeners. They want to voice their expectations and see a meaningful election where genuine public representatives are elected," he said.

He added that the participants highlighted several concerns at the event, including the need to control election expenditure, ensure the responsible use of social media and nominate qualified candidates. Many attendees stressed that without reducing election-related expenditure, it would be difficult to curb corruption. Citizens also emphasised the need for greater post-election accountability, suggesting that lawmakers present annual reports on their work.

Highlighting region-specific issues, Dr Debapriya said residents of Rajshahi prioritised four major concerns: river water scarcity and desertification, inadequate energy supply including gas, poor communication infrastructure, and the lack of industries, particularly agro-based enterprises. Matters related to healthcare, quality education and social protection were also raised.

Above all, security emerged as a dominant theme. "People are concerned not only about economic or financial security but also about social, cultural and business security," he said.

Participants linked these concerns to good governance, administrative efficiency and judicial independence. They viewed strong pre-election security as essential for a fair election, considering post-election security relatively less critical.

The consultation concluded with remarks from Prof Mustafizur Rahman, distinguished fellow at CPD and core group member of the Citizen's Platform. Rajshahi University Pro-VC Prof Farid Uddin and representatives from various political and social organisations also joined the open discussion.