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The Transparency International Bangladesh on Monday said that the fall of the authoritarian regime is the biggest political, diplomatic, and strategic defeat for India in the history of the neighbouring country.

TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman came up with the observation at a press conference at its office in Dhaka organised on the ‘First 100 days after the fall of the authoritarian government in new Bangladesh’, saying that India should come out of its negative attitude towards ‘new Bangladesh’.

Iftekharuzzaman said that India could not play the expected ‘positive role’ or show ‘positive attitude’ following the positive change in Bangladesh, as the  neighbour failed to accept its worst political, diplomatic and strategic defeat in history.

‘They (India) are still seeing Bangladesh through the prism that supports this authoritarianism,’ he said, adding that it had posed potential risks in which the country might play a catalytic role in destabilising Bangladesh.

The corruption watchdog’s senior research fellow Shahzada M Akram presented a study report at the press conference, mentioning that the Indian government, politicians, and media failed to accept the reality that a mass uprising brought the downfall of the authoritarian government.

India expressed concerns about the security of minority communities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh, while purposeful misinformation and rumours spread in the mainstream Indian media and through social media platforms, he added.

Despite Bangladesh’s strong protests, ‘border killings’ continued, said Shahzada.

Iftekharuzzaman, in his speech, also said that many people had the perception that ‘liberal thinking’ was promoted in Indian political space and media and among people. ‘But we think India has changed,’ he added.

He said that the way the Indian media were projecting Bangladesh was definitely a ‘disturbing factor’, creating an embarrassing situation for Bangladesh.

‘However, we also think it is embarrassing and shameful for India itself. So India has to move away from this path,’ he added.

The TIB executive director said ‘We always talk about keeping the door open. India is our biggest neighbour. We want to maintain a positive relation with India.’

The TIB report mentioned that the attitude of the international community towards the interim government was positive. The United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and other countries as well as the European Union, United Nations and other international organisations had expressed support for the country’s peaceful and democratic transition.

The report, however, said that the culture of racketeering, through control and rent-seeking, prevailed across sectors even after the interim government had assumed office.

The necessary strategy and roadmap for implementing the responsibilities assigned to the interim government, however, had yet to be prepared, the report pointed out.

The report also found that while efforts were made to ensure justice for the violence that occurred during the July-August student-led mass uprising, the process remained sluggish.

It also observed that the government in its decision-making manifested rather an ad-hoc tendency, with significant decisions, including the formation of the advisory council and allocation of responsibilities, remaining contentious.

A lack of efficiency and planning was also observed in the administration’s operations, while coordination issues among government officials responsible for decision-making were identified.

The report also said that a culture of establishing forcible control and dominance persists across nearly all sectors, with one vested interest group being replaced by another.

The report also indicated notable impatience among various stakeholders, including political parties, regarding giving the government sufficient time for reforms.

Targeted attacks, threats and attempts to shut down media outlets seen during these 100 days had posed significant risks to media freedom, it also added.

The Transparency International Bangladesh termed the absence of visible steps for internal reform among the political parties as a challenge, noting that state reform and new political settlement were the key spirit of the mass uprising.

The watchdog also found that attempts to impose religion-based politics were observed, undermining the vision of a non-communal and discrimination-free society.

The organisation emphasised structural changes to promote equality, justice and non-discrimination and establishment of a unified vision for a progressive and inclusive Bangladesh. 

The spirit of the student-led mass uprising would be undermined if the election was held without necessary reforms of the state, the TIB report stated.