Distinguished Professor Dr. Ali Riaz has published a policy brief on the governance in Bangladesh during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and delivered keynote on the issue in a webinar.
Published by the UNDP Bangladesh and the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), the policy brief is part of the series “Searching Ways Forward for Bangladesh in the Time of Pandemic.” In the policy brief Riaz said that for almost nine months since Bangladesh was exposed to the global pandemic, the country appears to be witnessing a growing trust deficit, demonstration of severe weaknesses of governance, and absence of transparency.
He underscored that the failures of the government in managing COVID-19 reflected the overall poor governance structure of the country. “As the incumbent in recent years have veered away from the democratic path, and shunned an inclusionary accountable system of governance, it was not unexpected that severe weaknesses in governance would become evident. Covid-19 has made it obvious,” he wrote.
Riaz recommended devising a comprehensive strategy to address the present crisis and the way forward for the next two years through an inclusive and participatory process. He also recommended that that the government must end the use of legal and extralegal measures, including the wanton use of the Digital Security Act 2018, to silence critical voices.
