Give the government time

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) assumed the responsibility of governing the country standing upon a pile of ruins. Securing an absolute majority in the 12 February election, the BNP formed the government at a time when Bangladesh was directionless, endangered, and hopeless. The country’s economy was fragile, society was unstable, the rule of law and justice were exiled, and the people were deprived of their rights. Good news was nowhere to be found. The previous autocratic government’s over-15-year-rule marked by corruption, plundering, and politicisation not only destroyed the economy, but also systematically violated the rule of law and human rights. Law enforcement agencies and the civil administration were turned into associate organizations of the ruling political party. Key institutions like the judiciary, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and the National Human Rights Commission were compromised through partisan control. People’s voting rights were stripped away, establishing a one-party rule. Elections became a mockery through voterless polls, midnight voting, and dummy candidates.
The entire nation was held hostage by a handful of powerful individuals. In response to this state of affairs, a peaceful movement developed under the leadership of the BNP. Over a 15-year struggle, people from all walks of life gradually joined in. In July 2024, the student community launched a movement demanding quota reform. The BNP linked this student movement with the people’s right to vote, human rights, and fundamental freedoms. Under the farsighted leadership of Tarique Rahman, the student movement transformed into a mass movement for civil rights. Through the historic mass uprising of August 5, the 15-year autocratic regime finally fell.
The people expected that democracy would be restored after the fall of the Awami League, allowing citizens to breathe freely in a discrimination-free Bangladesh where the rule of law and justice would prevail, and the country would be freed from enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Business owners hoped to operate freely and without fear. Civil servants believed they would finally be evaluated based on merit and capability. Teachers dreamed of a restored academic environment on campuses, where students could learn in institutions free from partisan influence. The general public hoped to live in a safe society. However, it did not take long for those hopes to shatter.
The eighteen months following the takeover by Prof Muhammad Yunus’s interim government on 8 August became a harrowing chapter for Bangladesh. During this period, the country plunged from darkness into even deeper obscurity.
Under the guise of economic recovery, the Yunus government managed to dismantle the economy. False murder cases were filed one after another against private entrepreneurs. Mob violence led to indiscriminate looting and arson in industrial factories while the government passively looked on. Gas and electricity supplies to industrial units neared total disruption during the Yunus administration. Private investors found it safest to fold their hands in frustration. Numerous factories shut down, rendering 15 million people newly unemployed and pushing another 20 million below the poverty line. In 18 months, Prof Yunus hollowed out the economy, creating 15 million unemployed and 20 million extreme poor. Investment halted, production stopped, and the economy came to a standstill.
In those 18 months, the educational environment was pushed to the brink of collapse, leaving no normalcy in academic institutions. Clashes, canceled classes, and violent conflicts between different educational institutions occurred constantly. Instead of attending classes, students blocked roads in protest.
A climate of fear dominated the media over the past 18 months. Journalists fell victim to mob violence, and many were framed as accused in murder cases. The sports sector also reflected a gloomy picture, as the interim government failed to keep sports free from political toxicity. The decision not to participate in the T20 World Cup caused irreparable damage to Bangladesh cricket. Furthermore, global access for Bangladeshi passport holders came close to being entirely shut off.
Mob terror spread across the nation during Yunus’s tenure, leaving the entire country hostage to mob rule. Corruption did not stop; in fact, it increased in certain areas. Business owners publicly stated that bribe rates had gone up. Allegations of corruption surfaced against almost every advisor, with only one or two exceptions.
Amid this dire situation, the BNP-led government was formed on February 17 under the leadership of Tarique Rahman. Shortly after the BNP took office, the global situation was thrown into turmoil due to the Iran-US-Israel war. Oil prices skyrocketed, and dark clouds of global economic recession gathered. Combined with past wounds and the current global situation, Bangladesh now faces a profound crisis – marked by severe load shedding on one hand and gas shortages paralyzing industrial factories on the other. The country is passing through a critical juncture. The current government under Tarique Rahman is now confronting a crisis for which it is not at fault, working to rebuild the nation on the ruins it inherited.
Overcoming this crisis requires national unity and cooperation from all quarters. Now is not the time for criticism; it is the time to stand shoulder-to-shoulder to restore the country. Peace and stability must be maintained at any cost.
It is impossible to normalize everything within a brief six-month period. From the outset, the BNP government under Tarique Rahman has been attempting to steer the nation back onto the right path. It is too early to evaluate whether the BNP has succeeded or failed, but the public recognizes the effort being made to get a derailed country back on track.
The 13th National Parliamentary Election established a vibrant parliament. Those elected to this parliament are fellow fighters from the anti-autocracy movement. Every member of this parliament fought for democracy, human rights, and voting rights over the past 17 years, enduring imprisonment, oppression, and persecution. We firmly believe that every party and member represented in the National Parliament understands the value of democracy and the immense sacrifices made to achieve it.
However, we observe that certain political parties and members of civil society are already making threats against the government. Some argue that this government should not be given much time. Members of civil society who attempted to foil the February 12 election and were involved in the 1/11 conspiracy have become active again, attempting to mislead the public against the government. This will yield no positive results for the country.
Now is the time to strengthen democracy, revitalise the economy, halt mob terror, and restore discipline and an educational environment to academic campuses.
The opposition party in parliament should certainly criticize the government and point out its flaws, but the public also expects them to work together to save the nation, protect the economy, and establish the rule of law. The duty of the opposition is not merely to criticize everything the government does, but also to guide it. Ultimately, the country belongs to all of us. Civil society ought to offer sound advice to the government rather than criticizing simply to show off intellectualism.
Concurrently, it is the government’s responsibility to engage with everyone in the national interest. The government must maintain active communication with all cross-sections of society, including the opposition, business leaders, media professionals, and intellectuals. Encouragingly, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is prioritizing this effort. Over the past five months, he has held exchange-of-view meetings with business owners, journalists, and various professionals, establishing a constructive culture of dialogue.
The prime minister has made three specific requests to everyone: First, the government took charge of the country during a difficult period, and he requested time to rebuild the nation. Second, he sought everyone’s cooperation to move the country forward. Third, he welcomed constructive criticism of the government.
Such accountability from a head of government is a very positive sign for success.
The government does not hold the mindset that “the people voted for us, so we can do whatever we want.” So far, it has operated with an inclusive approach.
However, the scope of these dialogues should be widened further. Thus far, most of the individuals the prime minister has met with belong to the BNP sphere. The prime minister’s doors should also remain open to those who do not belong to the BNP, as well as to its critics. Speaking primarily with party loyalists from various professions risks devolving into a competition of flattery, which could gradually alienate the government from the public. Therefore, an inclusive environment must be ensured, dissenting voices must be respected, and democracy will flourish as Bangladesh moves forward through mutual tolerance and prioritizing the national interest.