News Flash
RANGPUR, Nov 29, 2025 (BSS) - Distinguished Fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya has stressed the need for collective efforts to ensure that ongoing reforms become sustainable after the upcoming national elections.
"As citizens, we must tell our political leaders what we expect after the Jatiya Sangsad polls. We should treat the elections as an opportunity to strengthen and continue the reforms underway in the democratic process," he said.
He made the remarks while moderating a regional consultative meeting of the Citizen's Platform under its Pre-Election Initiative, held at the Begum Rokeya auditorium of RDRS Bangladesh on Saturday afternoon. The economist also spoke to reporters during the event in Rangpur city.
The consultative sessions are being organized in eight divisional cities and 18 universities across the country to help prepare a 'Citizens' Manifesto' that represents the hopes and aspirations of people from all walks of life.
Participants in the Rangpur meeting included teachers, students, rights activists, lawyers, development workers, journalists, cultural activists, farmers, ethnic minority representatives, third-gender citizens and leaders of small political parties from the division.
Dr Debapriya, a leading macro-economist and public policy analyst, said he has observed widespread consensus across the country on the need for elections. However, he raised concerns about the durability of potential changes.
"What guarantee do we have that the changes will be sustainable once the elections are held?" he asked. Referring to the student mass uprising after August 5, he added, "We have been given an opportunity through that movement. Will we lose it or not? Let us not look back later and regret that we did not act when we could."
To highlight the expectations of disadvantaged communities in the reform, judicial and electoral processes, the Citizen's Platform has begun preparing the Citizens' Manifesto to ensure their active participation ahead of the elections.
According to a recent CPD survey, the impartiality, capacity and security of the Election Commission and the administration remain top concerns in national election-related discussions, sentiments echoed at the Rangpur meeting.
"When people talk about elections, the first demand is impartial administration," Dr Debapriya said. "In addition, the Election Commission must be impartial, competent and courageous."
Discussions at the meeting also covered issues such as flood and drought management, the Teesta Master Plan, strengthening disaster resilience, expanding subsidies in agriculture and the economy, addressing unemployment, environmentally sustainable development, social security, women's rights, minority protection, freedom of expression, implementation of the July Charter, restoring democratic practices in political parties, and improving transparency, accountability and law and order.
Dr Debapriya highlighted that the northern region faces specific crises, including unemployment, weak disaster management, inequality, mismanagement and infrastructural deficiencies in the education and health sectors.
CPD research shows that SDG indicators in Rangpur and adjoining areas lag behind the national average, reinforcing demands for their inclusion in election pledges.
He said all political parties must engage from now to meet public expectations from the next government.
In his concluding remarks, CPD Distinguished Fellow Professor Mostafizur Rahman identified good governance, justice and a corruption-free environment as the key demands of citizens from the future government.
"I firmly believe that such regional dialogues will help make elections more inclusive. The July-August movement proved that change is possible. Politicians must have learned from that experience," he added.
