We’re Not Just Hungry—We’re Awake!

In a political climate already fraught with polarisation, economic anxiety and a demand for democratic accountability, the recent statement by BNP’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has sparked deep discomfort among citizens and observers alike. His remark — “Common people of Bangladesh do not understand reforms, they understand two handfuls of rice, thick clothes and a roof over their head” — was intended, perhaps, to emphasise the urgency of basic needs. Nevertheless, its implications raise troubling questions about how some of our top political leaders perceive the people they claim to represent. At a time when Bangladesh stands at a historical crossroads — between autocracy and participatory governance, charity and rights, economic development and equitable distribution — such a statement warrants critical scrutiny. Not only does it undermine the intellectual and political agency of ordinary citizens, but it also carries undertones that are inconsistent with democratic respect and the very foundation of human rights.

Let us begin by acknowledging the obvious: yes, basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter are fundamental. No meaningful discussion about reform or development can ignore these necessities. However, to suggest that the people of Bangladesh do not understand, appreciate, or desire reform — beyond these material needs — is to misjudge their political awareness fundamentally. The average citizen in Bangladesh has long demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of reform. From the mass uprising of 1969—when students, workers and ordinary citizens in East Pakistan took to the streets to demand autonomy and justice under Ayub Khan’s military regime—to the 1990 mass movement that overthrew the autocratic rule of General Ershad, the people of this land have not merely demanded “two handfuls of rice” — they have fought, protested, and even sacrificed their lives for justice, equality, transparency and dignity. To reduce these struggles to a hunger for food and clothing is not only ahistorical; it is deeply insulting. It is this reductionist narrative — that the typical person is too simple to comprehend systemic change — that has historically been used to maintain elite dominance. Such a worldview aligns more with colonial paternalism than democratic leadership.

In any functioning democracy, reform is not something “given” to people from above. It is shaped, demanded, and refined by people through participation, dissent and dialogue. Whether it is electoral reform, educational reform or institutional reform — the masses have a stake, a say, and a right to understand and influence these changes. To imply that elections are the only form of peace that people can understand is to again diminish their capacity for democratic participation. Elections, while critical, are not a magical solution. Without addressing systemic corruption, ensuring inclusivity and promoting rights-based development, elections alone cannot bring about peace. Moreover, suggesting that peace will follow a “quick election” assumes that speed is more important than legitimacy, process and inclusiveness. The people of Bangladesh do not need rushed transitions. They need transparent, inclusive and credible political processes — ones that respect their intelligence, involve them meaningfully, and reflect their diverse needs and aspirations.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted in 1948, recognises not only economic and social rights—such as the right to food and shelter—but also civil and political rights. These include the right to freedom of expression, participation in government, and access to transparent justice. To view citizens merely as consumers of state charity — and not as rightful claimants of justice, reform and dignity — is to promote a charity-based model of governance over a rights-based approach. Human rights are indivisible and interdependent. A person who is given rice but denied a voice, given clothing but silenced from protest, may survive — but cannot be said to live with dignity. The subtext of Mirza Fakhrul’s remark dismisses this truth. It sidelines the right to political participation and suggests that people will be content with material aid — rather than justice, reform and empowerment. However, this is not what history reveals. Whether it was during the anti-Ershad mass uprising of 1990 or the grassroots mobilizations of the July 2024 Revolution that toppled an authoritarian regime, it is clear that the people of this nation do not merely want to survive — they want to thrive, to question, to build and to belong.

The backlash to Mirza Fakhrul’s comment has been swift and decisive — not because people misunderstood him, but because people from all walks of life understood him all too clearly. They understood that embedded within that single sentence is a worldview that sees the public as a burden, not a partner; as needy, not capable. Respect must be the starting point of any political discourse. Respect for people’s intelligence. Respect for their lived experiences. Respect for their right to shape the future of the country — not just through ballots, but through daily work, grassroots engagement and reform advocacy. It is time for our political leaders to stop treating reform as an elite concept that the common people cannot grasp. Whether it is farmers demanding fair prices, garment workers seeking better working conditions, or young people calling for climate justice and digital rights — these are all calls for reform. They reflect an evolving political consciousness rooted in dignity, not just dependency. The people of Bangladesh have never been passive recipients of hand-outs. They have always been active agents of change. Any leader — opposition or ruling — who fails to recognise this will not only misrepresent the nation but also miss the opportunity to lead it meaningfully.

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The writer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at IUBAT and pursuing a Masters in Human Rights and Multiculturalism at University of South Eastern Norway