Dacca: Experts at a policy dialogue today emphasized the need for systemic reform in political financing in Bangladesh to enhance transparency and accountability. They highlighted that regular party finance is crucial as it is a more transparent and foundational element that sustains political networks and mobilization structures, shaping everyday political behavior more than election-time spending.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the remarks were made during an event titled 'Political Financing Culture in Bangladesh and Business Protection: Realities and Pathways to Solutions' held at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in the city. The roundtable was organized by the Dacca Institute of Research and Analytics (daira).
Prominent figures such as Shama Obaed, Organizing Secretary of BNP; Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, Assistant Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami; and Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, Head of the Election Reform Commission, among others, spoke at the event. Dr. Asif M Shahan, Professor at the University of Dhaka, moderated the discussion while Ragib Anjum, Research Associate of daira, delivered a presentation.
Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar proposed several fundamental changes to address entrenched corruption and political culture, including political party reform, Right to Information (RTI) inclusion, accountability, and transparency. He stressed the importance of cleansing the political and electoral arenas to keep miscreants away.
Dr. Iftekharuzzaman underscored that effective reform requires a holistic dismantling of the underlying system of power rather than superficial changes to election laws. He pointed out the lack of transparency in political financing and the dominance of a powerful syndicate comprising Politics, Bureaucracy, and Business, which he said has captured the state structure.
Shama Obaed argued that issues around political financing and accountability are deep-seated social and economic problems. She detailed the fundraising mechanisms within the BNP and raised concerns about the transparency of donations, questioning whether the funds are "black money" or "white money."
Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair outlined his organization's rigorous financial model, emphasizing transparency and accountability, relying on grassroots contributions. He stated that the organization's foundational principle rests on strict rules ensuring documented income and expenditure.
Khaled Saifullah emphasized that the problems in political financing stem from structural failures rather than moral ones, suggesting that replacing individuals will not resolve the issue if the structure remains unchanged.
In his presentation, Ragib Anjum noted that political parties in Bangladesh operate through hybrid financing structures that do not fit classical international models. He emphasized the need for gradual reform, focusing on implementing conditional public financing, increasing transparency, and using digital tools to oversee grassroots funding without removing local incentives. He concluded by stressing the importance of reconciling formal rules with grassroots realities to manage semi-autonomous financial structures effectively.