New criminals are now extorting individuals and businesses.

Extortion has persisted following the recent political transition in the country, with new extortionists replacing the previous ones. Extortion is rampant, affecting areas from street vendors to large factories, according to participants at a public hearing held by the Committee for the Preparation of the White Paper on the Existing Economic Condition of Bangladesh. More than 200 professionals attended the hearing yesterday, co-organized by the committee and the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) at the Peninsula Chittagong. They emphasized that for the country’s economy to become more dynamic, job creation for educated, unemployed youth is crucial.

Participants also highlighted bureaucratic obstacles related to birth registration, passport issuance, trade licenses, and land registration, which create unnecessary hassle and financial burdens for ordinary citizens. Speaking at the event, renowned economist Debapriya Bhattacharya stated, "Changing the leader without reforming the political system won't suffice. Those who sacrificed during the uprising sought to reform the state. We don't want to replace an old tyrant with a new one."

Bhattacharya also noted that various state institutions are entangled in corruption. "Those responsible for creating and enforcing laws have, in one way or another, become involved in corruption. Even uniformed officials have been implicated in graft, which shows the magnitude of the social issue we face," he said.

Debapriya, who chairs the white paper committee, stressed that every citizen must engage in the effort to bring about change. "We cannot rely on others to fix this for us. Securing our civic rights requires active participation, and elections are a vital step in this process."

He further warned that this moment offers a rare opportunity for citizens to claim their civic rights, adding, "If we miss this chance, it’s uncertain whether we’ll get another."

Other notable attendees included Prof AK Enamul Haque, member of the white paper committee; Ferdous R Begum, CEO of Business Initiative Leading Development; Imran Matin, Executive Director of BRAC Institute of Governance and Development; Kazi Iqbal, Research Director of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies; and Mohammad Abu Yusuf, Executive Director of Research and Policy Integration for Development.