North South University (NSU) hosted a high-profile national seminar on democracy in Bangladesh, titled “Democracy in Bangladesh: Crisis and Pathways Forward.” The event was jointly organized by the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) and the Private University Teachers’ Association of Bangladesh (PUTAB).
Keynote Speech Highlights
Professor Mahbubur Rahman, Chair of NSU’s Department of History and Philosophy, delivered the keynote address. He critically analyzed the challenges of implementing Western-style liberal democracy in the Bangladeshi context. Citing theorists like Robert Dahl, Schmitter, and Karl, he highlighted:
- Structural constraints such as Article 70 of the Constitution
- Centralization of executive power
- The cyclical transition between democracy and authoritarianism
Professor Rahman emphasized the role of citizen activism and the need to reclaim democratic principles rooted in Bangladesh’s own political history.
Chief Guest Remarks
Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, BNP Standing Committee Member, noted:
“Democracy may not be perfect, but it is the best available system to ensure justice, truth, and human rights.”
He warned against authoritarianism disguised as contextual governance and stressed the importance of checks and balances in democratic institutions.
Panelists and Guests
The seminar featured prominent academics and political thinkers, including:
- Professor Sk Tawfique M Haque, Director of SIPG
- Professor Shibli Ahmed Khan, AIUB & PUTAB Secretary
- Zonayed Saki, Ganosamhati Andolon
- Vice-Chancellors of Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh Open University, and National University
- Bobby Hajjaj, Chairman of the Nationalist Democratic Movement and Senior Lecturer at NSU
Emotional Tribute
In attendance were Mir Mustafizr Rahman and Kabir Hossain fathers of July 2023 democracy movement victims symbolizing the human cost of political repression in Bangladesh.