Staff Correspondent

Stressing the need for political and institutional reforms, Constitution Reform Commission Chief Ali Riaz said that reforms must be carried out based on the social bonding of the citizens.

The countrymen are experiencing one of the most turbulent periods in the politics of post-independence Bangladesh. In the wake of the unprecedented July mass upsurge, it is a time of both uncertainty and potential.

However, it is the culmination of 53 years of Bangladesh’s political and governance history. In this circumstance, the question of political and institutional reform must be considered. For 53 years,

Bangladeshi politics has been passing through a state of persistent oscillation over the past 53 years, he said, marking the 15th anniversary of Kaler Kantho, one of the leading Bangla newspapers in the country.

The countrymen have been passing their days amidst crises and possibilities, hope and disappointment and during this time, the system of governance has undergone numerous changes, he said.

Although the journey began with a parliamentary system in 1972, it came to an end within three and a half years as Bangladesh transitioned into a one-party presidential system. But, it was brought to an end through a military coup.

After a prolonged history of military rule spanning over a decade and a half, Bangladesh saw the return of the parliamentary system in 1991 through a mass uprising.

However, the promise heralded by the renewed journey of democratic Bangladesh gradually faded.

During this period, a two-party political system emerged, but instead of fostering democratic institutions, a form of “prime ministerial governance” was introduced in the country in 1991.

The system of centralised power, whose seeds were embedded in the 1972 Constitution, became increasingly evident through various amendments.

Despite the centralisation of power between 1991 and 2006, a partially acceptable electoral system, freedom of the media and judiciary and a sense of optimism among citizens were upheld a bit.

The system, on the one hand, ensured citizens' voting rights but gradually weakened state institutions.

However, by the end of 2006, conflicts among political parties, rising violence and the intense desire to retain or seize power reached a point where the continuity of the processes came into question.

The limited democracy that characterised this period came to an end and the military reemerged in Bangladesh’s politics.

A military-backed civilian caretaker government generated hopes that they would address the structural weaknesses in the governing system that had trapped Bangladeshi politics in a vicious cycle and undertake reforms to fix these issues.