95 – Governance and Politics in Bangladesh: Navigating Transformation, Challenges, and Opportunities
This panel delves into the critical dimensions of governance and politics in Bangladesh, examining transformations driven by endogenous mechanisms and ideational shifts.
Dr. Mohit Ul Alam’s paper on the student quota reform movement elucidates the historical and ideological complexities of state policies, particularly the contentious reservation system for descendants of 1971 Liberation War veterans. Alam contends that despite judicial reforms, the ruling party’s use of force to suppress protests underscores broader struggles over political dominance and ideological control.
Dr. Md. Manzoorul Kibria’s research on the Halda River highlights the socio-political ramifications of water governance, illustrating how corruption, environmental mismanagement, and local activism influence ecological sustainability. His study provides insights into the roles of government agencies, local communities, and NGOs in addressing the threats to one of Bangladesh’s key ecological resources.
Rajib Nandy’s exploration of mobile journalism (MoJo) investigates how digital technologies are transforming news production and dissemination in Bangladesh. While MoJo empowers citizen journalists and facilitates real-time reporting, Nandy identifies infrastructural deficiencies and ethical concerns that hinder its full potential.
Finally, Dr. ASM Mostafizur Rahman’s paper presents a historical institutional analysis of Bangladesh’s socio-economic transformations. Rahman challenges conventional theories of exogenous donor-driven pressure, arguing that policy learning and ideational shifts within the state have been pivotal in Bangladesh’s globalization through the garment industry.
Collectively, these papers explore the multifaceted challenges of governance in Bangladesh, from higher education to environment, media, and industry. The panel offers a nuanced understanding of how societal forces and governance structures interact with endogenous pressures, shaping Bangladesh’s political and economic transformation.