Democracy, Governance and Security Reforms: Bangladesh Context

This volume argues that democratic deepening and security reforms are mutually reinforcing in Bangladesh. It traces how predictable rules, checks and balances, and an inclusive public sphere enable effective, rights-respecting security provision—and how, reciprocally, impartial policing and justice protect democratic competition. Contributors diagnose governance bottlenecks: discretionary administration, weak local government finance, case backlogs, and fragmented oversight. They examine reform experiments—community policing pilots, prosecution service upgrades, e-governance in licensing, and public financial management improvements—assessing what worked and why. A people-centred security perspective threads the book: women’s safety, urban crime prevention, violence around elections, and grievance redress for marginalized groups. Comparative chapters draw lessons from peers on police professionalism, judicial administration, and parliamentary scrutiny. The volume closes by arguing that sustained reform requires coalition-building across state and civil society, robust data for performance management, and leadership continuity beyond political cycles.