A seminar titled “Democracy in Bangladesh: Crisis and Transition” was jointly organized by the South Asian Institute for Policy and Governance (SIPG) of North South University and the Private University Teachers’ Association of Bangladesh (PUTAB) at the University’s Syndicate Hall. The program was moderated by Professor Dr. Md. Taufiqul Islam Mithil, Professor of the Department of Political Science and Sociology and President of PUTAB.
Prominent educationists, political leaders and representatives of civil society of the country were present at the program. The discussion was attended by Professor S.K. Taufiq M. Haque, Director, SIPG, North South University; Professor Dr. Mahbubur Rahman, Chair, Department of History and Philosophy, North South University; Professor Dr. Shibli Ahmed Khan, General Secretary, Department of Management, AIUB and PUTAB; Mr. Jonayed Saki, Chief Coordinator, Mass Mobilization Movement; Professor Dr. M. Md. Kamrul Ahsan, Vice-Chancellor, Jahangirnagar University; Professor Dr. ABM Obaidul Islam, Vice-Chancellor, Bangladesh Open University; Professor Md. Nurul Islam, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, National University; and Mr. Bobby Hajjaj, Chairman, NDM and Senior Lecturer, North South University. In addition, Mir Mustafizur Rahman, father of July Shaheed Mir Mughd, and Md. Kabir Hossain, father of July Shaheed Jabir Ibrahim, were present at the event.
The keynote address was presented by Professor Dr. Mahbubur Rahman, in which he questioned the suitability of Western-style democracy in the context of Bangladesh. He said that since independence, Bangladesh has repeatedly oscillated between democracy and authoritarian rule. He identified constitutional limitations and centralization of executive power as the main obstacles to democracy. Drawing on the theories of Robert Dahl and other political thinkers, he highlighted the weaknesses of the democratic framework in Bangladesh and said that it was necessary to develop a suitable democratic model based on the country’s own political traditions.
Chief guest and BNP Standing Committee member Dr. Abdul Moin Khan said that although democracy is not perfect, it is the best way to establish justice and protect people’s rights. He said that democracy is not geographically limited and authoritarianism cannot be legitimized in the name of ‘local context’. “True democracy,” he said, “respects diversity of opinion and freedom of voice.” He warned that the centralization of power, the erosion of institutional balance and the tendency to suppress truth are threats to democracy.
As a special guest, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, “Today’s discussion was very theoretical and full of knowledge. Democracy is not just an institutional issue, it is a question of intrinsic values and self-restraint. We learn from history—Napoleon was a fan of George Washington and had a picture of Washington in his room. But when Washington was offered to assume imperial power, he politely declined and resigned on his own after two terms, strengthening the spirit of republican democracy. On the other hand, Napoleon declared himself emperor and ultimately betrayed the very revolution through which he had emerged.
At the end of the program, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Abdul Hannan Chowdhury expressed his gratitude and said that open and constructive dialogue between academia and policymakers is essential to address the challenges of democracy in the country. He reiterated the commitment of North South University to research-based participation in good governance and policymaking.
