---

Project Overview: The Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) recently concluded an ambitious project titled "Dialogue for Democratic Reconstruction." This initiative aimed to facilitate a comprehensive and inclusive reform process in Bangladesh by engaging key stakeholders in national and regional dialogues.

Background: Bangladesh experienced a significant political shift following the fall of the autocratic Sheikh Hasina regime. An interim government, led by Nobel Laureate Professor Yunus, was sworn in on 9 August 2024. The interim government faced enormous challenges due to the policies and actions of the deposed autocratic regime and the citizens’ lack of confidence in institutions. This project was initiated against this backdrop to seize the historic opportunity to establish a system of durable democracy and justice.

Project Goal: The primary goal of this project was to facilitate a comprehensive and inclusive reform process in Bangladesh by engaging key stakeholders in national and regional dialogues. These dialogues focused on identifying and addressing systemic issues across various sectors, ultimately contributing to the restoration and strengthening of democratic governance, rule of law, and human rights in the country.

Project Duration: The project spanned 5 months, from August 2024 to January 2025.

Project Activities:

National Level Dialogue: Eight sessions were held in Dhaka, focusing on topics such as the constitution, human rights, judiciary, civil administration, constitutional bodies, law enforcement agencies, economic policies, and mass media. Experts, stakeholders, and distinguished sector representatives participated in these sessions.

Regional Level Dialogue: Dialogues were conducted in the divisional cities of Chattogram, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Khulna. These sessions gathered citizens' expectations and suggestions for the interim government and long-term structural changes.

Summary Briefs: Brief summaries of discussions and specific recommendations were published and disseminated to relevant stakeholders to ensure meaningful action.

Live Streaming and Media Coverage: All dialogues were live streamed on multiple digital platforms and covered extensively by national and regional media outlets to maximize public engagement and transparency.

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