Published in The Business Standard on 12 September 2020
Good governance needed for public’s sustainable welfare
Experts made the comments at the launch ceremony of a biannual journal titled “Journal of Governance, Security & Development”
Experts have called for establishing good governance to ensure economic development and the sustainable welfare for the people of the country.
They said that Bangladesh has achieved development in different fields by tackling corruption, ensuring good governance and overcoming various institutional challenges.
The experts were speaking at the formal launch ceremony of a biannual journal titled “Journal of Governance, Security & Development” arranged virtually by the Center for Governance Studies (CGS) on Saturday.
They urged the authorities to conduct more research to build a good connection among development, security and governance.
Zillur Rahman, executive director of the Center for Governance Studies, moderated the event while Dr Habib Zafarullah, professor of the University of New England and editor-in-chief of the journal, delivered the opening remarks.
Dr Ali Riaz, a distinguished professor of the Department of Politics and Government at Illinois State University and a member of the editorial board of the journal, said there are interconnections among governance, security and development and one without the other is incomplete.
“Although South Asia is important in international politics and economics, a large section of researchers and policymakers in the region are not able to present themselves in the international arena with due importance to governance, security and development,” he continued.
He hoped that the Journal of Governance, Security and Development would serve as a powerful platform for regional researchers, policymakers and intellectuals to be given due prominence in the international arena.
Dr Habib Zafrullah said such activities will play an important role in furthering the concept and activities of governance, security and development.
He also said these activities should be continued on a regular basis so that the persons concerned can get a thorough understanding of any issue or problem related to governance, security and development.
Dr Fahmida Khatun, executive director of the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), said that Bangladesh has been developing in socio economic indicators since the independence of the country by tackling corruption, establishing good governance and overcoming various institutional challenges.
It is possible to speed up the development process by ensuring good governance and holding the government accountable, she added.
Dr Naznin Ahmed, senior research fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, said the government should establish good governance everywhere to ensure sustainable development and achieve the status of a developed country.
She also said any type of journal or research activity plays an important role in the development of advanced thinking, and the Journal of Governance, Security and Development is an initiative to enhance the efficiency of institutions as well as institutional improvement.
Dr Manjur Ahmed Chowdhury, acting chairman of the Center for Governance Studies, also spoke at the event.