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Politicians, academics, and members of civil society on Friday urged political parties to remain united, rising above narrow political interests, to resist autocracy from making a comeback.

They also urged for a new political settlement and democratic transformation of society through reforms in the state institutions upholding the spirit of student-led mass uprising.

Politicians, however, urged the interim government to hold a free and fair election after carrying out minimum necessary reforms.

The calls came at a dialogue on ‘Unity, reform, and elections’ held by the Forum for Bangladesh Studies at the Krishibid Institution at Farmgate in Dhaka city.

Participating in the  discussion, the head of the Constitution Reform Commission, Professor Ali Riaz, said, ‘We witnessed our national unity over the recent attack on our sovereignty. Now we need that unity regarding our state’s governance system.’

Noting that the power was concentrated in the hands of a few individuals in the past 16 years, he said that political parties, civil society and people would be taken on the path of reform through unity.

He said that merely reforming laws and creating a good constitution would not be enough to ensure constitutional rights. A need to change political culture was also imperative.

Ali Riaz also urged political forces’ commitment to advancing the reform efforts.

Bangla Academy chairman Professor Abul Kashem Fazlul Haq said, ‘The weakness of our national life is politics. We have made progress in many areas, but we have not been able to move forward in politics the same way.’

He said, ‘People do not have faith in Awami League. If Awami League rebuild itself in the future, people may think about them again.’

Former caretaker government adviser Hosain Zillur Rahman observed that going to the polls in a chaotic situation would be a terrible thing, saying that the political landscape changed through the unprecedented sacrifice of the students and people.

‘The desire that has been born in the change of scenery is certainly the desire to get the right to vote back, but along with this, two additional desires have strongly attracted attention—the desire for justice and the desire for dignity,’ he said.

He said that the interim government gave the bureaucracy a chance to sit in the driving seat from the beginning that resulted in some problems which could be overcome though.

Professor Salimullah Khan saw no end to the dominance of dynasty politics as long as political parties did not practice democracy among them. He also urged political parties to practice transparency about donations received from home and abroad.

The unity had been affected, and no consensus had yet been reached among political parties till now on reforms, he said.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir urged the reform commissions to create mechanisms to engage people in the reform process.

He also urged the reform commissions to discuss with political parties before submitting their proposals to the government.

Pointing out that the elections were the key gateway to a democratic system, he said, ‘Unfortunately, many people are now saying that BNP does not want reforms and is prioritising elections.’

‘We are saying repeatedly that we want to go to the polls after necessary reforms to hold an acceptable election.’

‘Our main problem has always been the absence of democratic practice in the country, and no culture has developed here for it,’ he said.

Noting that the longer the delay was made in holding the polls, the greater the problems would be, Fakhrul said, ‘Who will implement the proposals of the commissions? Fascists are still having their stronghold in the administration and state machinery.’

He also said that the BNP had always been in favour of democratic reforms and would remain committed to that stance in the future.

‘We should not forget 1971, and we should remember the continuous struggle, the fight for democracy, the struggle that has been going on since 1971,’ he added.

Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Mia Golam Parwar said, ‘We cannot be united on many issues regarding national unity. Efforts are still being made to destroy our unity.’

Demanding elections after necessary reforms, he said, ‘Jamaat will give whatever time it takes for reforms, and then the elections, and Jamaat will always be there for any national unity.’

Industries adviser Adilu Rahman Khan said, ‘The allies of fascism are in layers after layers in the country.’

‘We must be ready to resist as the fascism cannot return,’ he said, urging everyone to remain vigilant.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, said, ‘If the reform issue is backed down this time, political stability will not come.’

She said that consensus was a must for bringing reforms.

Rizwana also said, ‘Only a change in leadership will not change everything in the country unless there is a change in mentality.’

‘If there is no practice or no change in the psyche, even the best laws in the world will not be able to bring any change,’ she added.

Reforms were a grand dream, remarked economist Debapriya Bhattacharya, adding ‘but unity is essential.’

‘We must move towards elections. But before that people need relief. Do not just focus on superficial discussions while neglecting people’s livelihoods and security,’ he said.

‘You are discussing the dearness allowance for government employees, but I do not hear any discussions about where the rest of the people will get their dearness allowance. Will there be an introduction of unemployment allowances for the educated youth?’

Regarding reforms, Debapriya observed that while there were extensive discussions on structural and administrative reforms, little attention was given to the foundational aspects of society and the nation.

Ganosamhati Andolan chief coordinator Zonayed Saki said, ‘We need a new political settlement on the basis of a democratic constitution following the aspirations of the mass uprising.’