The phenomenon of the emancipatory student led solidarity movement in Bangladesh has created a space to create a new platform for governance founded on the principles of inclusion, non-discrimination, equality, transparency, and peace. The design of a new social contract is contingent on the recognition of the solidarity principle that everyone has an equal right of participation in civic life, freedom, and full enjoyment of all human rights that enable self-fulfillment and human centered development. The urgency of having free, fair elections to enable a successful transition to democracy underscores the need for international support to prevent interference, manipulation, disinformation, and other forms of intrusion.

There is also a need for the creation of an independent, impartial truth, reconciliation, and accountability mechanism to address the legacy of structural violence, exclusion, discrimination, and corruption which lay at the root of the cycles of violence and destruction on all sides.  Accountability for extra-judicial killings, repression of political opponents, censorship, enforced disappearances, forced displacement, and gender-based violence directed at women belonging to opposing political groups or minority religious communities requires serious investigation and prosecution and assistance, collection of evidence, protection and remedies for victims.

It is important to improve heterogeneity within the judiciary, police, and media in order to increase their legitimacy and connection to the society.  This can be supported by dissemination of human rights guidelines and principles on the democratic function of these institutions.

International and national stakeholders should promote peaceful dialogue through open processes that aim to create bridges between different sectors of society, teaching mutual respect among different religious and socio-economic communities, including within schools, thereby including children.  These are first steps to establish the necessary social trust for a new epoch in which Bangladesh’s diversity can be lauded as the strength of transforming the nation through solidarity.