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DHAKA, Dec 7, 2025 (BSS) - Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud today said Bangladesh should prioritise an effective democratic transition, stronger accountability systems and a long-term roadmap for building a fair, discrimination-free society.
He said those are very essential for establishing a functional democratic order to ensure long-term economic development and building a just society.
"The expectations today are modest - we are trying to secure the basic foundations of a democratic system. We must move forward with the hope that a stable and lasting framework for governance will emerge in the new Bangladesh," he said.
The Planning Adviser was addressing as the chief guest at the Annual BIDS Conference on Development 2025: Democracy and Development organized by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) held at the conference hall of the Parjatan Bhaban in the capital's Agargaon area.
BIDS Director General Prof Dr AK Enamul Haque gave the opening remarks.
The Adviser outlined three core priorities for the nation's current trajectory: Transitioning to an effective and representative democratic system; Ensuring that such a system delivers sustainable economic development; Achieving development that promotes equity and reduces social and economic disparities.
Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud said that nearly five and a half decades after independence, the nation is still striving to establish a "functional democratic arrangement", which should have been achieved long ago.
He argued that democratic institutions alone cannot guarantee the quality of democracy unless political behaviour and political culture evolve.
"A parliament elected by the people, a government accountable to that parliament and independent watchdog institutions are all prerequisites," he said, adding, "But, the real test will always lie in political conduct - something that can't change overnight."
The Adviser highlighted the link between political patronage, youth unemployment and the spread of cadre-based politics, saying these interconnected problems cannot be solved by blaming politics alone.
"Poor-quality education, high dropout rates and youth joblessness are closely tied to why many young people choose political patronage as a livelihood," he said.
On the economic front, he said democratic governance does not automatically ensure development unless accompanied by deep administrative reforms and an end to the informal networks of collusion between business and bureaucracy.
"Reforms through new rules and regulations may help, but their success depends entirely on the behavioural environment - the incentives created, the culture of trust, and the social norms within which markets operate," he said.
He pointed to global experiences to argue that market liberalisation has produced widely different outcomes in different countries.
"In some East Asian economies, discipline, trust and strong internal accountability systems delivered sustained growth," he said, citing China and Vietnam's reform experiences.
"Administrative accountability must be matched with a sense of responsibility."
Turning to Bangladesh's statistical system, he said greater transparency in data production is essential for evidence-based policymaking.
Digitalisation of BBS datasets would allow researchers and journalists to independently examine national statistics, ultimately improving their quality.
"But, even then, political will remains crucial - if there is political demand for illicit gains, no regulation alone can prevent it," he said.
Addressing the broader goal of creating a discrimination-free society, the Adviser said the debate naturally falls outside political consensus-building initiatives like the July Charter or the Consensus Commission.
"Questions of redistribution, social protection, market-state relations and reducing inequality are inherently ideological," he said. "Parties must articulate these issues clearly in their manifestos."
Emphasising two core ideas for policymakers and researchers, the Planning Adviser said no country can prosper if it fails to ensure the minimum livelihood needs of all citizens; and achieving this requires both an appropriate economic structure and genuine political commitment.
Concluding his remarks, the Adviser said that Bangladesh's path to a just society depends on political will, institutional innovation, and responsible governance. "Without political commitment, corruption simply changes its source. With accountability and responsibility, sustainable equitable development is within reach."
