Civil society acts as a mediator between the government and the people of a particular nation. It is neither part of the government nor of the general population. The thoughts and ideas of its members distinguish them from the broader public. Primarily, civil society works to serve the interests of both the government and the people. It supports and commends effective government actions and decisions, while also offering constructive criticism (either individually or collectively) of flawed initiatives and proposing feasible solutions. Additionally, it advocates for the duties, rights and challenges faced by the people, with a primary focus on public welfare. Another defining characteristic of civil society is that its members remain unbiased in both their thinking and actions. Finally, civil society is a nonprofit sector that includes non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community groups, advocacy organisations, charities, faith-based groups, intellectuals, social thinkers, human rights activists, university professors, poets, writers, labour unions, and others.

However, the sad part is that the civil society in Bangladesh is nominal in its role, largely ineffective, and often biased. In fact, they lack a clear understanding of their actual responsibilities. Civil society is partly responsible for failing to hold the government accountable by critically analysing its policies and actions. Furthermore, they do not play a significant role in raising awareness about the rights and duties of the people. Only a few members of this group address the genuine concerns and problems of the public.

Democracy is an agreement between the people and the government of a nation, where members of civil society play a vital role in bridging these two classes. However, most members of civil society in Bangladesh tend to align with the government. They prioritise their own interests, often presenting false and misleading portrayals of government actions as truthful. This advocacy for particular groups is driven by bias and the pursuit of specific objectives, even though neutrality is a fundamental characteristic of civil society. While civil society members may hold political ideologies, they must not be politically blind. The members of Bangladesh’s civil society must cultivate the courage to tell what is right and what is wrong, regardless of prejudice or biasness.

The ineffectiveness of civil society in Bangladesh is not solely the fault of its members. The environment is often constrained by the ruling government. Restrictions, the lack of genuine freedom of speech, the fear of arrest, legal interferences, threats and other forms of suppression imposed by the ruling party have forced freethinkers to act according to the government’s will. In reality, they are often manipulated by the government to mislead the masses, ensuring the regime’s prolonged grip on power.

As a result, there exists a significant gap and mistrust between the general public and civil society. Today, the term “Civil Society” is often used pejoratively. Members of civil society are sometimes labelled as “Brokers of the Government”. While the masses may not immediately voice their rights, a sense of rebellion against these anomalies grows within them, waiting for the right moment to erupt. It is understandable that when civil society is unwilling to take risks on behalf of the people and works for group interests rather than prioritising the public’s legitimate concerns, the people will inevitably lose trust in civil society.

The solution lies in liberating Bangladesh’s civil society from political influence. Awareness about the true role of civil society must be disseminated to ensure their neutrality and impartiality. Democracy requires civil society members to play an influential and appropriate role, which necessitates the protection of their freedom of opinion and action without any interference. Since the people of Bangladesh have lost their faith in civil society, its members must focus solely on restoring their image by performing what they are supposed to.