Civil society, policy dialogue and democratic change in Bangladesh

Civil society remains a multifaceted concept which is built up by a broad range of constituencies driven by a variety of objectives. This chapter seeks to delimit its scope by focusing on the role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in influencing the policy discourse in Bangladesh. Traditionally, civil society initiatives originated in the activism of specific interest groups committed to promoting more parochial agendas. This chapter, however, draws upon the contemporary move towards engaging civil society in the design and oversight of public policy as part of a process of promoting more accountable and transparent governance. The chapter largely draws upon the experience of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Dhaka, which is a well-known think-tank in Bangladesh and across South Asia.

Related Subject(s): Democracy and Governance

Countries: Bangladesh