Reforming political parties is more important than reforming the state itself if transparency, accountability and good governance are to be ensured in Bangladesh, according to experts.

They said this at a policy dialogue organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) on Saturday.

The dialogue, titled 'Transparency, Accountability, and Governance Mechanisms', was held at CIRDAP Auditorium in the city, bringing together policymakers, political leaders, academics, civil society representatives and governance experts ahead of the upcoming national election.

The speakers stressed that without internal democracy, transparency and accountability within political parties, meaningful state reform would remain unattainable, warning that public trust in democratic institutions has steadily eroded due to unchecked political influence, corruption and lack of accountability.

CGS President Zillur Rahman, in his opening remarks, said discussions on governance often focus narrowly on administration, overlooking the political nature of transparency and accountability in a democratic system.

“These issues directly determine how political power is exercised, how citizens’ rights are protected, and how accountable the state is to the people,” he said.

He emphasised that political parties must move beyond election rhetoric and demonstrate commitment through concrete actions.

“After elections, political bias and party influence within governance increase, weakening public trust and confidence in institutions, including the judiciary,” Zillur Rahman said, adding that the dialogue aimed to directly question political parties about their clear policies on transparency and accountability.

BNP Vice Chairman Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon questioned the neutrality of the current political arrangement, stressing strict enforcement of dual citizenship laws and self-accountability among political actors. “Transparency must begin with oneself.”

Former BNP MP Nilufar Chowdhury Moni expressed concern over the future of governance, pointing to loan defaulters and lack of transparency in affidavits submitted by candidates. “If lawmakers themselves lack integrity, the future is worrying.”

BASAD General Secretary Bazlur Rashid Firoz criticised the lack of asset disclosure by advisers of the interim government, saying transparency must flow from the top.

He also demanded accountability regarding undisclosed agreements and minority security.

Economist Dr Selim Jahan underscored the need for transparency, accountability and judicial independence, saying accountability must start from the top.

“An elected government is not a party’s government; it belongs to the entire country,” he said, calling for equal application of the law and responsible media freedom based on accurate information.

Former NBR chairman Dr Muhammad Abdul Majid said trust has been damaged due to repeated failures to implement manifesto commitments, citing stalled initiatives to disclose lawmakers’ asset details.

He also raised concerns over undisclosed agreements and minority voting rights, urging collective pressure on the government to address these issues.

Advocate Subrata Chowdhury argued that political party reform should take precedence over state reform.

“If political parties themselves lack transparency and accountability, how can these values be ensured among the people?” he asked.

Prof Shahidul Islam Zahid of Dhaka University identified conflict of interest and centralisation of power as major barriers to transparency, stressing the need for ethical governance and education reform.

Barrister Nasreen Sultana Mily called for a clear roadmap for governance reforms and accountability, questioning why reform commission recommendations remain unimplemented.

Former secretary AKM Abdul Awal Majumder emphasised merit-based appointments and transparency in recruitment, warning that governance would not improve without qualified and independent officials.

Other speakers, including Didar Bhuiyan, Prof Dr Shamsun Nahar Khanom and Muhammad Shawkat Ali Hawlader, highlighted gaps between laws and their implementation, lack of political will, ethical decline and growing public anxiety over election credibility.

CGS Executive Director Parvez Karim Abbasi said successive governments show little interest in reform once elected, citing lack of clarity on major decisions, growing corruption and declining public confidence.

"What we see today is zero accountability, zero transparency and zero governance," he said.