Bangladesh Won’t Return to Past, Says Planning Adviser

Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud on Sunday expressed confidence that Bangladesh will not return to its past state, emphasising the country’s progression towards a more accountable and democratic future.

“This is our firm belief that the future Bangladesh will not be the same as the previous times,” he said at a workshop on protecting forest-dependent communities from deforestation, plantation economies, climate change, and land grabbing, held at the CIRDAP auditorium.

The event was organised by the Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD), with Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) Executive Chairman Hossain Zillur Rahman presiding.

Mahmud noted that the country's democratic system and governance have evolved, and he does not believe it will regress to its previous state. “In future, we will learn from past experiences how a democratically elected government can truly be accountable and meet people’s expectations,” he said.

He cautioned against attempts to hold onto power without fulfilling public expectations. “We have seen the consequences of that, and it will not benefit anyone,” he warned.

Mahmud stressed that future governments should be more responsive to public demands and aware of local grievances. “They should better understand the scarcity and complaints of local people and act more sensitively,” he added.

Earlier in the session, Professor Tanzimuddin Khan of Dhaka University’s International Relations Department and University Grants Commission (UGC) member delivered the welcome address, while SEHD Director Philip Gain presented the keynote paper.