Govt publishes book outlining key reform initiatives

The government has published a book titled Reform Book, outlining key reform initiatives undertaken by the interim administration since August 2024, the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing announced on Sunday.

The press wing described the background of the reforms, noting that on 5 August 2024, driven by the courage of millions of Bangladeshis—particularly young men and women who took to the streets to declare “Enough is enough” to authoritarian rule—Bangladesh began to emerge from nearly sixteen years of repression under Sheikh Hasina.

This public uprising, known as the July Uprising, led to the formation of an interim government headed by Professor Muhammad Yunus, at a time when the nation faced a deep political, economic, and institutional crisis. Years of corruption and mismanagement had left the state hollowed out: hundreds of billions of dollars were syphoned from public institutions, the banking sector was crippled by non-performing loans, and core regulatory bodies, including the central bank, were subordinated to private and political interests.

Law enforcement agencies had been used for political repression, the judiciary compromised by corruption and political manipulation, elections rendered meaningless, and media freedom and civil society severely curtailed.

From this legacy, the interim government—working alongside millions of citizens—initiated a comprehensive programme of transformation. Immediately upon taking office, it established Reform Commissions comprising field experts and sought recommendations for sector-specific reforms. Using these reports, and through its own initiatives, the government enacted widespread legal and institutional changes achievable within its tenure.

In the eighteen months since assuming office, the administration has enacted approximately 130 laws—including new legislation and amendments—and issued over 600 executive orders, reflecting the urgency of institutional reform. Roughly 84 per cent of these measures have already been implemented, demonstrating substantive change rather than symbolic gestures.

Significant progress has been made in economic and foreign policy arenas. New trade agreements have diversified partnerships and reduced overreliance on single markets, including an Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan granting duty-free access to roughly 7,400 Bangladeshi products. Strategic cooperation with China has extended loan maturities, supported major healthcare infrastructure, and improved flood forecasting through shared hydrological data. Negotiations with the United States reduced reciprocal tariffs from 37 per cent to 20 per cent, safeguarding access to the world’s largest economy. Diplomatic relations with key partners have been strengthened, and ties with India have been recalibrated on a more balanced footing.

Accountability measures have begun. Anti-corruption cases have been filed against hundreds of former officials and politicians, with billions of dollars in assets frozen or confiscated. Banking reforms have introduced genuine oversight, procurement transparency has been expanded across 42 ministries, and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics has been granted full autonomy to report economic data.

Law enforcement reforms have restored substantial discipline: over 1,200 officers have been suspended pending investigation, and human rights–centred training has been introduced for tens of thousands of personnel. Special commissions have heard testimony from thousands of victims and families, initiating a long-overdue process of truth and accountability. The Rapid Action Battalion has been restructured and renamed the “Special Intervention Force” to ensure meaningful operational change.

Judicial independence has been restored through structural reforms that place all courts under Supreme Court administration, ending executive interference. Supreme Court judges are now appointed through merit-based processes, insulated from political control, laying the foundation for lasting rule of law.

Media freedom has been reinstated: politically motivated cases against journalists have been dropped, and previously banned outlets have resumed operations. No media establishment—including those aligned with the former regime—has been closed.

Throughout the transition, the interim government carried out inclusive political dialogue, including seven months of televised consultations that culminated in the July Charter, a foundational document for constitutional reforms now awaiting approval via referendum. The Charter seeks to entrench fundamental rights, establish meaningful checks and balances, and safeguard against a return to authoritarianism.

The press wing emphasised that while these reforms mark the first steps toward a system of governance that serves citizens rather than dominates them, much work remains: sixteen years of damage cannot be fully remedied in eighteen months. Yet, it added, Bangladesh has decisively turned away from authoritarian rule, guided by the courage that filled the streets in July and August 2024.