[Editor’s note]

Observations of policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic disclosed the wide spectrum of challenges that hindered the successful implementation of a nationwide solution. Bangladesh, despite facing challenges in governance, has initially been quite successful in administering vaccines. Nonetheless, Rezwan-ul-Alam, the Director of the Knowledge Management team at Manusher Jonno Foundation, points out that government plans of vaccine procurement have stirred controversy as this accomplishment was short-lived. In its journey for vaccine procurement, Bangladesh was positioned at a disadvantage in between COVID-19 vaccine diplomacy between India and China. Additionally, challenges to the health sector remain grave as illustrated through frequent incidents of corruption. Attempts to disclose the aforementioned incidents have resulted in charges against the media. The government’s reaction to shut down public dissent has also drawn backlash domestically and internationally, which is attested by Bangladesh’ low performance in the Radar Chart of Varieties of Democracy.

※The following is an excerpt from the article. For the full text, please check the attached file at the top of this page.

Introduction

In spite of several mismanagement cases and challenges to governance [1] in handling the COVID-19 outbreak, the Bangladesh government performed remarkably well in administering the vaccination of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine which began on January 27, 2021. While the government’s performance was extraordinary in terms of the early availability and administering of the vaccines, [2] stock shortage of vaccines led the government to temporarily suspend from administering the first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

This working paper, is the second in the seres, highlighting the governance challenges from January to May 30, 2021.

The objectives of this paper are:

1. To examine the role of the government in procuring COVID-19 vaccines in the backdrop of vaccine diplomacy and the role of India and China in particular;

2. To assess the nature of development assistance by both bilateral and multilateral agencies; and

3. Offer recommendations to overcome governance challenges around COVID-19 vaccine issues.

Methodology

This paper is written through research of secondary material available on the internet. Selected social media posts and comments were analyzed to understand the public perception of the vaccination program of the government. A model developed by the writer is also used to analyze the ongoing governance challenges in Bangladesh centering around the COVID-19 management.

The governance context

Bangladesh’s core governance systems are plagued with serious accountability and transparency deficit. During the COVID-19 period, the linkage between public health outcomes and democracy, human rights, and governance was starkly exposed. [3] However, it should be noted that corruption in the health sector was a regular phenomenon before pre-COVID-19 period. In the 2019 Global Health Security Index that examined six key indicators: prevent, detect, respond, health, norms, and risks, Bangladesh ranked 113 among 195 countries with an overall score of 35. [4]

During the period under review in this paper, the freedom situation on media reporting and freedom of expression further worsened with the mysterious death of the detained writer, Mushtaq Ahmed, in February 2021. [5] Mr. Ahmed was arrested in May 2020 for allegedly criticizing the government’s handling of the pandemic situation. [6] Despite national outcries and international condemnation, the authorities claimed to be innocent concerning his death. [7] Another Cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore was also allegedly tortured in custody. Media analysts feared that such blatant attacks on freedom of expression and media freedom are signs of “growing authoritarianism” in the country. [8]■

[1] Uddin, K. Farid, “COVID-19 Pandemic Is About More than Health: A State of Governance Challenges in Bangladesh, Sage Journal, February 26 2021, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0971523121993344 (Accessed on May 15 2021).

[2] BSS, “How did Bangladesh get Covid-19 vaccine so quickly”? Dhaka Tribune, 25 January 2021, https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/01/25/how-did-bangladesh-get-covid-19-vaccine-so-quickly, (Accessed on May 15 2021).

[3] Alam, Rezwan, Pandemic Crisis and Democratic Governance in Bangladesh: An Analysis, ADRN Working Paper, 3 May 2021, http://www.eai.or.kr/new/ko/pub/view.asp?intSLegeq=20493&board=kor_workingpaper, (Accessed on May 15 2021).

[4] “Bangladesh, Global Health Security Index”, GHSI, https://www.ghsindex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Bangladesh.pdf, (Accessed on 15 May 2021).

[5] BANGLADESH: CARTOONIST TORTURED, WRITER DIES IN JAIL: AHMED KABIR KISHORE”, Amnesty International, 8 March 2021, https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa13/3800/2021/en/ Accessed on 30 May 2021.

[6] “Bangladeshi writer Mushtaq Ahmed dies in jail; cartoonist Kabir Kishore allegedly abused in custody”, Committee to Protect Journalist, 25 February 2021, https://cpj.org/2021/02/bangladeshi-writer-mushtaq-ahmed-dies-in-jail-cartoonist-kabir-kishore-allegedly-abused-in-custody/ (Accessed on 30 May 2021).

[7] “BANGLADESH: CARTOONIST TORTURED, WRITER DIES IN JAIL: AHMED KABIR KISHORE”, Amnesty International, 8 March 2021, https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa13/3800/2021/en/, (Accessed on 30 May 2021).

[8] Hasan, Zia, “What writer Mushtaq Ahmed’s death in jail shows about growing authoritarianism in Bangladesh”, Scroll.in, 4 March 2021, https://scroll.in/article/988495/in-writer-ahmeds-death-in-a-bangladesh-jail-signs-of-awami-leagues-growing-authoritarianism, (Accessed on 30 May 2021).

■ Rezwan-Ul-Alam is the Director of the Knowledge Management team at Manusher Jonno Foundation, Bangladesh. He has a solid working experience of 23 years at different positions in Advocacy, Communication, Partnership and Media relations in a number of organizations (TIB, World Bank, UNICEF, Bangladesh Government and media). He holds a PhD in Journalism from City University, London.

• Typeset by Junghye Suh, Research Associate
    For inquiries: 02 2277 1683 (ext. 207) I jhush@eai.or.kr