The Department of History & Philosophy (DHP) and the
Department of Political Science & Sociology (PSS) at North South University
(NSU) jointly organized a seminar titled "Money in Politics: Party
Financing and Accountability in Bangladesh" on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, at
3:00 PM in the SHSS Dean Conference Room (NAC 1024).
The seminar featured Dr. Fernando Casal Bértoa, Associate
Professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Nottingham, as
the keynote speaker. Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary at Citizens for Good
Governance (Shujan), attended as Chief Guest. The program was graced by the
presence of the Pro-Vice Chancellor of North South University, Dr, Naser U.
Ahmed. Dr. Md. Rizwanul Islam, Professor and Dean of the School of Humanities
and Social Sciences, delivered the welcoming address. The session was moderated
by Dr. Mahbubur Rahman, Professor and Chair of the Department of History &
Philosophy, and concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Rizwan Khair, Associate
Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science & Sociology.
Opening the seminar, Dr. Mahbubur Rahman underscored the
urgency of the subject, noting that financial influence over politics carries
serious risks for governance and public integrity. "Money influences
politics and it can do so in deeply negative ways," he observed.
"Even sitting members of parliament carry debt obligations running into
thousands of crore taka. The question of how elected officials maintain
distance from conflicts of interest is one Bangladesh must answer honestly."
He noted that expenditure in local union parishad elections alone routinely
runs into millions, illustrating how financial pressures permeate every tier of
the political system.
Dr. Rizwanul Islam welcomed the distinguished panel, noting
that the convergence of international expertise and seasoned domestic advocacy
made for an exceptionally qualified discussion. "Our chief guest has
worked in this area for a long time," he said. "It would be difficult
to assemble a more informed panel on this subject."
Dr. Fernando Casal Bértoa, a member of the core group of
political party chairs within the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (OSCE) and co-author of a forthcoming volume with Oxford University
Press on political party regulation, delivered a comprehensive analysis of
Bangladesh's political finance challenges.
He identified three interconnected problems undermining
democratic stability: widespread corruption, weak party institutionalisation,
and disproportionately low female representation in parliament. Citing
Transparency International's global rankings, he noted that Bangladesh
currently stands at 151st position among countries surveyed for perceived
public sector corruption among the lowest-ranked nations globally.
Dr. Casal Bértoa argued that strong political parties are
essential to sustaining democratic institutions, and that Bangladesh's party
structures remain insufficiently developed to resist patronage and financial
manipulation. He also highlighted that woman comprise only 3.5 percent of
directly elected members of parliament a figure significantly below regional
and global averages and drew on comparative research suggesting that greater
female parliamentary representation correlates with reduced levels of political
corruption and political polarization.
On the question of financing reform, Dr. Casal Bértoa
outlined three models of public political funding, cautioning that the transfer
of public funds to parties without stringent regulatory controls could worsen
existing problems rather than resolve them. He called for the prohibition of
corporate donations to political parties in Bangladesh, an update to outdated
campaign spending limits, the introduction of donation caps, and robust
transparency requirements covering party accounts and electoral expenditure.
"Without public funding, controlling political corruption is extremely
difficult but public money without proper oversight may make things
worse," he stated.
Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar offered a candid and historically
grounded perspective on the erosion of political integrity in Bangladesh.
Reflecting on asset declarations submitted by candidates across successive
election cycles, he noted a striking pattern: officeholders across party lines
have seen their personal wealth increase substantially during periods in power.
"Money influences the power a person holds," he said. "Politics
in our country is no longer a public service it has become a profitable
business."
Dr. Majumdar expressed frustration that audit reports and
expenditure declarations remain shielded from public scrutiny. He called for
mandatory submission and public disclosure of campaign accounts. Referencing
the broad public sentiment reflected in the informal use of the word
"politics" as a synonym for deception in everyday Bangladeshi
conversation, he lamented the collapse of the original ideal of politics as
civic duty. He also raised concerns about student political wings being used as
instruments of organized violence and called for the development of parties
around clear ideological commitments rather than family-based or
personality-driven structures.
Speaking in his closing remarks, a senior university
official agreed with the keynote speaker's argument for public funding as a
starting point for systemic reform. He emphasized that institutional ethics and
civic education must be cultivated from an early stage, and that the university
bears responsibility for helping build moral foundations within public life.
The seminar reflected NSU's ongoing commitment to hosting
rigorous academic discourse on matters of national consequence. The School of
Humanities and Social Sciences continues to facilitate platforms where
scholars, policymakers, and civil society practitioners engage in
evidence-based analysis of the challenges facing Bangladesh's democratic
institutions.
