Dhaka: BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury emphasized on Tuesday that political accountability to citizens can be achieved by making Parliament effective and ensuring the proper functioning of its standing committees. He expressed these views during a programme titled ‘National Election 2026 and Citizens’ Expectations’, organized by Citizen’s Platform at the city’s Agargaon.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Khosru pointed out that the elements necessary for a ‘new political arrangement’ are already embedded within the Constitution, and the real challenge is not the constitutional framework but the practice of politics. He highlighted the importance of political accountability, stating, “If politicians are accountable to the people, many problems can be resolved easily.” He acknowledged the loss of public trust in politicians and urged political leaders to restore confidence through accountability.
Khosru underscored the role of parliamentary democracy, asserting that accountability should extend beyond Parliament to involve the private sector, civil society, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). He warned that if civil society is not allowed to function, it indicates a shift towards authoritarianism by the government.
Discussing parliamentary reforms, Khosru noted that Bangladesh follows the Westminster model, which works well in the UK, and suggested that issues arise from the country’s political culture rather than the system itself. He stressed the need for functional parliamentary committees, stating, “Blaming Parliament without making parliamentary committees functional will not work. There is no alternative to effective parliamentary committees.”
On the topic of political consensus, Khosru argued against involving all parties in reforms indiscriminately, saying that the party with the people’s mandate has the right to implement reforms. He highlighted the diversity of political ideologies as a strength of democracy, emphasizing, “The beauty of democracy lies in being able to practice politics despite differences.”
The programme was moderated by Citizen’s Platform Convener Debapriya Bhattacharya, who noted that governments initially listen to stakeholders but become less receptive over time. In response, Khosru mentioned that BNP is practicing accountability in its political initiatives by including interactive sessions to engage with the public.
Khosru also lauded Citizen’s Platform’s Reform Tracker system, stating that the era of political rhetoric is over and emphasizing the need for political parties to understand and meet the aspirations of the people to avoid an uncertain future in Bangladesh.