Citizens Set to Lead Democracy’s Defence: Debapriya

The people of Bangladesh will emerge as the frontline guardians of democracy in the days ahead, Citizen’s Platform Convener Debapriya Bhattacharya said on Thursday

Citizens of Bangladesh are poised to emerge as the frontline guardians of democracy in the coming days, Citizen’s Platform Convener Debapriya Bhattacharya said on Thursday, citing growing public awareness and the country’s evolving political and social landscape.

Speaking at a press briefing, Debapriya said the people of Bangladesh are now far more conscious and capable than in the past, enabling them to take primary responsibility for safeguarding democratic values. “Protecting democracy will no longer depend on any single group or institution. The people themselves will act as its principal guardians,” he said.

The remarks were made at an event titled ‘National Election 2026: Citizens’ Recommendations for the Next Government’, organised by the Citizen’s Platform at a city hotel.

Debapriya stressed that sustainable development and meaningful change cannot be achieved through policy frameworks alone. To ensure accountability, he said the Citizen’s Platform has introduced a national programme to monitor how far its policy recommendations are implemented over time.

“Policy advice without implementation has little value. Effective oversight is essential,” he said, adding that key sectors such as education, health, social protection, and broader economic and social policies will be tracked through a newly introduced ‘Reform Tracker’.

He explained that the Reform Tracker will not be limited to monitoring the Citizen’s Platform’s own proposals, but will also assess how effectively political parties fulfil their election manifesto commitments related to citizens’ development after the polls.

Noting that civil society is currently more alert and engaged than at any previous point, Debapriya said citizens are expected to play a decisive role in Bangladesh’s democratic transition. With an emphasis on improving living standards, he said the platform has structured its recommendations to reflect people’s priorities and expectations.

At the event, CPD Distinguished Fellow Mustafizur Rahman presented 12 policy recommendations aimed at promoting inclusive development during Bangladesh’s future socio-economic and democratic transition. CPD Additional Director (Research) Towfiqul Islam Khan also outlined a 10-point action plan designed to support the implementation of those recommendations.