Stressing the need for internal reforms, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Sunday said political parties in Bangladesh have significant shortcomings across every indicator of good governance in their institutional operations, including transparency, accountability, democratic practices, participation and inclusion, and the prevention of irregularities and corruption.

At a press conference at TIB's Dhaka office to launch a research report titled “Institutional Governance of Political Parties in Bangladesh”, the watchdog highlighted how dependence on individuals for political financing and the dominance of informal funding sources were helping foster personality- and family-centred politics within the parties.

It said internal reforms were essential to ensure good governance, and the parties themselves must take responsibility for these reforms, a press release said.

Speaking at the event, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, “Political parties play one of the most important roles in establishing democracy in Bangladesh and in any other country. The lion's share of whatever progress we have made in our democratic journey has been due to our political parties. However, they must also take responsibility for what has not been achieved despite the opportunities available.”

He said there was a noticeable tendency among parties not to comply with their constitutions and relevant laws, rules and regulations.

At the same time, excessive dependence on money, from party registration to the conduct of party activities and participation in elections, had made parties reliant on businesspeople and wealthy individuals.

“This dependence on individuals and informality in political financing are fostering abuse of power, the influence of black money, criminalisation and internal conflicts within influential parties, turning political parties into power-centred business models,” he added.

On women's participation in political parties, he said that although there were legal obligations and commitments, no real progress was visible.

“The lack of internal democratic practices and grassroots participation is making one-person or individual-centred leadership, family politics, authoritarianism, elitism and patriarchy increasingly entrenched within the parties,” he said.

Referring to instances in which ad hoc measures had been taken in some cases in response to corruption, irregularities and abuse of power by party leaders and activists, the TIB executive director said the lack of internal accountability had normalised the use of money and muscle power, political violence and internal conflicts within major parties.

“In this context, internal reforms are essential to ensure good governance in the institutional operations of political parties, one of the key institutions of democracy,” he said.

According to the research findings, there is a lack of a strong legal framework to ensure internal democratic practices, transparency and accountability in political financing, and good governance within political parties.

In many cases, existing rules and regulations are not consistent with international best practices, while the legal framework governing the registration of political parties creates “competitive clientelism”, forcing parties to conduct their activities through the patronage of businesspeople and wealthy individuals.

The research found that under the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972, every political party must have a constitution, which must not conflict with the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. However, the constitutions of seven political parties conflict with various articles of the national constitution.

Section 90H states that political parties cannot have affiliated or associate organisations formed with teachers, students, employees or workers of financial, commercial or industrial establishments or organisations, or members of other professions. However, although not mentioned in their constitutions, almost all parties, particularly the larger political parties, operate student and professional organisations under the names of “affiliated” or “fraternal” organisations.

The research also found allegations that government intervention or the influence of state intelligence agencies had played a role in granting registration to several new parties.

Regarding financial management, the research found that no political party has financial policies and procedures. Nor do the parties or the Election Commission publish audited reports of their annual income and expenditure.

Regarding internal democratic practices, the research found that although most parties elect their heads through national councils, elections are held through voice votes instead of secret ballots.

There is no practice of accepting nominations from multiple candidates for the post of party chief; only two parties, CPB and AB Party, have multiple contestants, it said.

Except for one party, CPB, the constitutions of other parties do not specify how many times or for how many terms an individual can serve as party chief. Among the political parties covered by the research, 10 have provisions for family members to assume the position of party chief.

The research cited examples of 12 party chiefs serving in the position for 10 years or more.

In terms of accountability, the research found that although the constitutions of all parties identify the national council or convention as the highest decision-making forum, council meetings in 16 parties are irregular and generally serve to approve previously determined decisions.

The research report made 12 recommendations to ensure good governance in the institutional operations of political parties.

Among those are amending the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972, and the Political Party Registration Rules; bringing political parties under the Right to Information Act, 2009; increasing the Election Commission's scrutiny of political parties' financial accounts and organisational activities, and taking effective measures in cases of violations of legal obligations; and specifying how long an individual can hold leadership positions, including the post of party chief.

Under the qualitative research, 42 political parties (37 registered and five unregistered) were contacted, but 32 provided information.

The data used in the research covered the period from the beginning of political party registration in 2008 through December 2025. However, in some cases, updated data up to August 2026 were also used.