BANGLADESH AT 50: CAUGHT IN THE DEMOCRACY-DEVELOPMENT DILEMMA
Bangladesh has made significant economic progress in the last decade and half. The recent UN resolution marking Bangladesh’s graduation from Least Developed country to a developing one constitutes global recognition of her success. However, this economic success has created, what has been called a “democracy deficit”. Questions have been raised about the “watch dog” role of the parliament, independence of the judiciary, the autonomous functioning of such statutory bodies as the Anti-corruption commission, Human Rights Commission, the Information Commission, etc.
Is Bangladesh caught in the “democracy vs development” dilemma? The talk will examine the country’s economic growth vis a vis the functioning of some vital institutions that are expected to promote and protect democracy. It will discuss some of the recent laws that have been passed and see how they have contributed to the process of transparency and accountability which are pre-conditions to the functioning of a democratic government. It will examine the present state of freedom of expression and of the media.