Published: 05 September 2025
Transparency International (TI) Chair Dr. François Valérian concluded his official visit to Dhaka yesterday with an address on democratic transition and accountable governance, delivered during a dinner meeting at TI Bangladesh's Dhanmondi office. The event brought together civil society representatives, donor agency delegates, embassy officials, and key stakeholders for discussions on Bangladesh's ongoing transformation following last year's historic July uprising.
In his keynote speech titled "People Power and the Fall of Authoritarianism: Opportunities and Challenges for Democratic Transition and Accountable Governance," Valérian praised Bangladesh's achievement in overthrowing what he termed "corrupt authoritarianism" during the pivotal 36 days of July 2024. "I have spent the last few days in a country that, last year, heroically overthrew authoritarianism," he told the audience, emphasizing that "there is no authoritarian solution to corruption."
Outlining essential requirements for democratic success, Valérian emphasized the need for judicial independence, political party reform, continued civil society oversight, and transparency in beneficial ownership of legal entities. He called for Bangladesh to create "the democracy of the future" with full participation of young people, women, and marginalized communities.
The talk was followed by an extensive open discussion that revealed the complexity of Bangladesh's democratic transition. Civil society leaders raised concerns about ensuring meaningful participation of marginalized communities, particularly indigenous groups, in the reform process. Donor agency representatives discussed the international community's role in supporting institutional reforms while respecting Bangladesh's independence. Embassy officials explored diplomatic approaches to facilitate regional cooperation in combating cross-border corruption networks.
Dignitaries engaged in detailed conversations about the current political landscape, with seasoned activists sharing insights on maintaining momentum for reforms while navigating competing political interests ahead of the February elections. The discussion on people's power delved into mechanisms for sustained citizen engagement beyond periodic elections, including the role of youth movements and women's organizations in holding future governments accountable.
Indigenous rights emerged as a particularly significant topic, with representatives from indigenous communities highlighting the need for constitutional recognition and protection of their land rights as part of the broader democratic transformation. The conversation on authoritarianism examined both historical patterns and contemporary global trends, with participants drawing lessons from other countries' experiences in preventing democratic backsliding.
These discussions underscored the multifaceted nature of Bangladesh's challenges and the broad coalition of stakeholders committed to ensuring that the sacrifices made during the July uprising translate into lasting democratic institutions and practices.
The TI Chair, Valérian's visit underscores the international attention and support for Bangladesh's transformation, while providing expert guidance from one of the world's leading voices in the fight against corruption and authoritarianism and also highlighted TIB as the organization's largest chapter worldwide and praised the vibrancy of Bangladesh's civil society.
