The Department of Management of the Faculty of Business Administration (FBA), American International University-Bangladesh, Dhaka, organized a seminar titled “Institutional Democracy and Future Bangladesh” on June 28, 2026, at the Media Studio, Annex 2. The event was jointly organized by Nusrat Nowreen Srabonty, Lecturer, Department of Management, AIUB, and Prof. Dr. Partha P. Chowdhury, Chartered Marketer (UK), Director-in-Charge, BBA Program, on behalf of the FBA Management Team.

The seminar was chaired by Prof. Dr. Anwar Hossain, Advisor and Dean-in-Charge, FBA.  The session commenced with welcome and opening remarks by Prof. Dr. Anwar Hossain who emphasized the importance of strengthening democratic institutions and promoting evidence-based discussions on Bangladesh’s democratic future.

The keynote paper, “Bangladesh’s Path to Institutional Democracy: Lessons from Failure and Building Blocks,” was presented by Prof. Dr. Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Talukdar, Talukdar Abrar Adib, Matt Daniel Morgia, Saima Akter, Shifa Binte Atik, and Sabira Islam Fariha. The study critically explored Bangladesh’s democratic transition through directed content analysis, focused synthesis, and meta-synthesis approaches. The authors argued that weak institutionalization of checks and balances, limited political inclusiveness, and insufficient adherence to rule-based governance have contributed significantly to the country’s democratic challenges. Authors further highlighted the importance of inclusive electoral processes, public trust, democratic accountability, and effective governance in building a sustainable democratic framework. The paper also presented a forward-looking vision titled “Future Bangladesh 2050,” envisioning a society where institutional democracy, digital transformation, inclusive governance, and civic engagement reinforce one another.

The expert discussion was led by Professor Dr. Jebunnessa, Department of Public Administration, Jahangirnagar University, who shared valuable insights on the lessons from Bangladesh’s democratic experiences and the institutional reforms required to strengthen democratic governance. She emphasized the need for an independent judiciary, transparent electoral institutions, empowered local governments, media freedom, civic participation, and a constructive democratic political culture.

An engaging open discussion followed, where participants, including Honorable Registrar Gp Capt (Retd) Dr. Mohammad Zahidul Islam Khan, acsc, psc, faculty members, and students, exchanged views on institutional reform, democratic resilience, governance, and citizen participation. The interactive session provided a platform for meaningful dialogue on Bangladesh’s future democratic trajectory.

The seminar concluded with closing remarks by Dr. Faria Sultana, Associate Professor and Associate Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), who applauded the presenters and participants for their thoughtful contributions. Prof. Dr. Anwar Hossain then delivered the vote of thanks, expressing appreciation to the organizers, speakers, guests, and attendees for making the event a success.

The seminar reflected AIUB’s continued commitment to fostering intellectual discourse, research excellence, and informed discussion on issues of national importance, while encouraging students and academics to engage critically with contemporary governance and development challenges.