The interim government announced six reform commissions on 11 September 2024,106 tasked with bringing forward proposals on reforming the constitution, police, judiciary, the election commission, public administration and to combat corruption.107 Later in October 2024,108 another four reform commissions were announced, tasked with bringing forward reform proposals on health, media, labour rights and women affairs.109 Yunus has stated that the reports of these commissions would form a charter for a ‘new Bangladesh’ built on consensus, and it will form the basis for the upcoming election.110
All of the ‘main’111 six reform commissions (on the constitution, police, judiciary, elections, public administration and anti-corruption) submitted their reports with recommendations to Yunus in January–February 2025.112 Thereafter, Yunus formed another commission, the National Consensus Commission, that consists of the heads of the first six commissions, and is chaired by Yunus himself.113 The purpose of this commission is to find national consensus around reform initiatives and their implementation.114 The commission started working on 15 February 2025115 and has a deadline of six months to reach consensus.116 The remaining commissions submitted their reports in March–May 2025.117
The reform commissions have proposed extensive changes to key institutions.118 Some of the commissions’ many proposals include:
- Constitutional amendments, inter alia to establish an improved balance of powers among top government positions, as well as a bicameral parliament.119
- Decentralising the judiciary.120
- Reducing bureaucracy by restructuring administrative divisions and provinces, and reducing the number of ministries and directorates to 25 (from 40).121
- Reforming the police.122
- Introducing new anti-corruption laws (including introducing public asset declarations, and criminalising private sector bribery).123
- Reforming labour laws (inter alia by harmonising national laws with international standards on occupational safety, compensation, and maternity protection).124
- Establishing an independent regulatory body to oversee the media sector.125
At the time of writing, the National Consensus Commission had not forged consensus around a reform plan.126
The interim government has reshuffled hundreds of public officials to depoliticise government institutions.127 Officials in ‘constitutional and statutory institutions, public administration, the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, and service sectors’128 have been re-assigned, transferred, forced into retirement or dismissed.129 International Crisis Group reported that 850 leaders in local governance bodies had been replaced as of mid-August 2024.130 In November 2024, TIB reported on a persisting ‘culture of partisan control of political and governance space, extortion and dominance’ leading to internal conflicts, that sometimes included violence.131 International Crisis Group also reported on the bureaucracy remaining politicised and ‘highly inefficient’, which may pose a challenge to enforce reforms.132
- 106
Daily Star (The), Govt finalises 5 of 6 reform commissions, 4 October 2024, url
- 107
ConstitutionNet, Interim government of Bangladesh extends deadline for constitution reform commission, 6 January 2025, url
- 108
Business Standard (The), 4 new commissions to be formed on health, media, labour rights, women affairs, 17 October 2024, url
- 109
HRW, After the Monsoon Revolution, 27 January 2025, url; Business Standard (The), 4 new commissions to be formed on health, media, labour rights, women affairs, 17 October 2024, url
- 110
Daily Star (The), A new chapter for the nation begins, 16 January 2025, url
- 111
HRW, After the Monsoon Revolution, 27 January 2025, url
- 112
Bdnews24.com, 4 commission reports recommend key changes to set path for state, governance reforms, 16 January 2025, url; Dhaka Tribune, Judicial Reform Commission proposes permanent, merit-based attorney service, 5 February 2025, url; Dhaka Tribune, Public Admin Reform Commission recommends cutting down ministries, reorganization of divisions, 5 February 2025, url
- 113
Dhaka Tribune, Yunus-led National Consensus Commission to start work on Saturday, 13 February 2025, url
- 114
HRW, After the Monsoon Revolution, 27 January 2025, url
- 115
BSS, Consensus commission holds first meeting with parties today, 15 February 2025, url
- 116
BSS, Consensus commission holds first meeting with parties today, 15 February 2025, url; Financial Express (The), Yunus-led Consensus Commission formed for six months, 14 February 2025, url
- 117
Business Standard (The), Nat'l media commission, new laws recommended to protect journo rights, 22 March 2025, url; Dhaka Tribune, Women's Affairs Reform Commission submits report to Dr Yunus, 19 April 2025, url; Dhaka Tribune, Labour Reform Commission urges legal overhaul for inclusive worker rights, 21 April 2025, url; BSS, Reform commission recommends forming permanent 'Bangladesh Health Commission', 5 May 2025, url
- 118
Daily Star (The), A new chapter for the nation, 17 January 2025, url
- 119
Bangladesh, Constitution Reform Commission, Summary of recommendations, 22 February 2025, url, pp. 5–6, 8
- 120
Bangladesh, Constitution Reform Commission, Summary of recommendations, 22 February 2025, url, pp. 1, 8
- 121
Dhaka Tribune, Public Admin Reform Commission recommends cutting down ministries, reorganization of divisions, 5 February 2025, url
- 122
Bdnews24.com, 4 commission reports recommend key changes to set path for state, governance reforms, 16 January 2025, url; BSS, PRC suggests amendment, replacement of 22 laws for police reforms, 15 January 2025, url
- 123
Bangladesh, ACC, ACC Reform Report, 14 January 2025, url, pp. 1–3
- 124
Dhaka Tribune, Labour Reform Commission urges legal overhaul for inclusive worker rights, 21 April 2025, url
- 125
Dhaka Tribune, Media Reform Commission proposes structural changes to Bangladesh’s media landscape, 22 March 2025, url
- 126
AFP, Bangladesh consensus commission fails to find agreement, 26 May 2025, url
- 127
International Crisis Group, A New Era in Bangladesh? The First Hundred Days of Reform, 14 November 2024, url; Reuters, Bangladesh recalls five envoys in major diplomatic reshuffle, 3 October 2024, url
- 128
TIB, ‘New Bangladesh’, Tracking the First 100 Days after the Fall of the Authoritarian Regime, 18 November 2024, url, pp. 4–5
- 129
Reuters, Bangladesh recalls five envoys in major diplomatic reshuffle, 3 October 2024, url; TIB, ‘New Bangladesh’, Tracking the First 100 Days after the Fall of the Authoritarian Regime, 18 November 2024, url, pp. 4–5
- 130
International Crisis Group, A New Era in Bangladesh? The First Hundred Days of Reform, 14 November 2024, url
- 131
TIB, ‘New Bangladesh’, Tracking the First 100 Days after the Fall of the Authoritarian Regime, 18 November 2024, url, p. 19
- 132
International Crisis Group, A New Era in Bangladesh? The First Hundred Days of Reform, 14 November 2024, url