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Background and Rationale
In the context of Bangladesh’s evolving political landscape and institutional challenges, there is an urgent need to rethink and reconstruct key pillars of governance through inclusive public engagement. Recognizing the importance of civic voice in democratic transitions, the Dialogue for Democratic Reconstruction was initiated to foster structured, participatory dialogue across a range of critical sectors. The project provides a platform for both expert stakeholders and ordinary citizens to contribute to a reform-oriented roadmap grounded in democratic accountability and public expectations.

Phase I: Institutional Reform through National and Regional Dialogues
The first phase of the project focused on assessing and reforming core state institutions through eight national-level dialogues held in Dhaka. The dialogue topics included:
1. The Constitution
2. Human Rights and Justice for Victims of Egregious Violations
3. Judiciary
4. Civil Administration
5. Constitutional Bodies
6. Law Enforcement and Intelligence Agencies
7. Economic Policies, including the Banking Sector and External Loans
8. Mass Media

Each session brought together prominent civil society members, academics, legal experts, and journalists to identify institutional weaknesses and offer reform recommendations.
To ensure broader inclusivity, regional dialogues were organized in Chattogram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, and Khulna, enabling grassroots citizens to express their expectations for democratic reconstruction. These regional forums ensured that the dialogue process reflected regional diversity and amplified the voices of communities often excluded from national policy debates.

Phase II: Expanding the Agenda and Deepening Participation
Building on the outcomes of Phase I, the second phase broadens the thematic scope of the dialogue and strengthens public participation. This phase includes:
• Three National Dialogues on:
o Foreign Policy
o Education and Public Health
o Security, Corruption, and Energy
• Three Open Forums engaging key societal groups:
o Labor Rights
o Youth Perspectives
o IT Professionals
• Two Televised Talk Shows, in collaboration with TritiyoMatra, to expand public reach and disseminate the key messages of the dialogues:
o One following the national dialogues
o One following the open forums

This phase seeks to deepen democratic discourse by incorporating emerging governance challenges and spotlighting the voices of underrepresented groups. By linking national-level policy discussions with sectoral and grassroots concerns, the project creates a comprehensive platform for democratic consultation.

Objective and Impact
The overarching goal of the Dialogue for Democratic Reconstruction is to produce a citizen-informed, expert-validated roadmap for institutional and policy reform. Through layered dialogues and forums, the project aims to:
• Strengthen democratic accountability and transparency
• Empower citizens to participate meaningfully in shaping governance
• Encourage responsive policymaking through evidence-based recommendations
• Promote a culture of inclusive and deliberative political engagement
The outcomes of the dialogues will be compiled into a comprehensive policy brief, serving as a reference document for policymakers, civil society, and reform advocates alike.

 To know details about this project, please visit https://reconstructionbd.com/