[🇧🇩] Everything about the interim government and its actions

[Saif]

People won’t tolerate govt’s incompetence

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman yesterday urged the interim government to manifest its commitment to ensuring people’s voting rights through a credible election in a bid to strengthen ties with people and build their trust.

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People won’t tolerate govt’s incompetence
Says Tarique

Photo: Courtesy/UNB

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman yesterday urged the interim government to manifest its commitment to ensuring people's voting rights through a credible election in a bid to strengthen ties with people and build their trust.

Speaking at a council, he also warned that people will not tolerate the government's incompetency in running the country.

"The interim government has already taken an initiative to restructure the Election Commission. People expect to cast their votes freely, without fear, in a neutral and transparent environment and to elect their representatives," the BNP leader said.

He said the relationship between the government and people will grow stronger if the public can maintain their confidence in it.

"When people will see that the government is genuinely working to uphold their voting and other fundamental rights, their trust in the government will naturally deepen."

Tarique virtually addressed the concluding session of the third National Council of the Jatiyatabadi Textile Engineers Association of Bangladesh as the chief guest at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh.

"If the political and economic empowerment of the people is not ensured, then no matter what we call democracy, development, or reform, none of it will be sustainable," Tarique said.

He also said the main tool of a citizen's political power is the right to vote. "If people are not given the opportunity to exercise their right to vote, their relationship and partnership with the state will not be established."

Tarique said the deposed autocrats and their associates, both within the country and abroad, as well as elements within the administration, are actively working to fail the interim government. "If they succeed in undermining this government, they will also fail democracy and the millions of Bangladeshis who cherish democratic values," the BNP leader said.

In such a situation, he said, some decisions of the interim government appear to ignore the people's aspirations, instead imposing what they believe is best for the public.

Tarique also said if priorities are set incorrectly during the reform process, it will be seen by the people as a sign of the government's inefficiency.

Speaking at the programme, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the country is facing a very critical time. "We must navigate this period with great caution."

He urged the interim government to quickly complete the necessary electoral reforms to ensure credible and acceptable elections, in line with the people's wishes.

Tarique also called on BNP leaders and activists to preserve the party's image by refraining from any wrongdoings and standing firm against any form of injustice.

BNP Standing Committee members Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, among others, addressed the programme, with Jatiyatabadi Textile Engineers Association of Bangladesh President Fakhrul Alam in the chair.​

 

[Saif]

Interim govt is working to fulfil people's aspiration: Farida

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akthar today said the interim government is working to fulfill the people's aspiration

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Interim govt is working to fulfil people's aspiration: Farida

Photo: Courtesy/BSS

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akthar yesterday said the interim government is working to fulfill the people's aspiration.

"The interim government is working to create a good atmosphere to handover the charges to the people's representatives. For this, some reforms will be needed," she told reporters after inaugurating the inter-school science fair at Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Bhasha Chattar in Brahmanbaria town.

Bangladesh Freedom Foundation and ARD jointly organised the daylong fair.

The adviser said the interim government is also working to rehabilitate the families of martyrs and people injured during the July-August uprising.

Brahmanbaria DC Mohammad Didarul Alam, SP Mohammad Jabedur Rahman, and Professor Towfiqul Islam, among others, addressed the function with ARD Chief Advisor Siddiqur Rahman Rezvi in the chair.​

 

[Saif]

Holding polls not govt’s only responsibility

Just holding elections is not the sole responsibility of the current interim administration, since it is a revolutionary government, not a caretaker, Nahid Islam, adviser to the posts, telecommunications, and information technology ministry, said yesterday.

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Holding polls not govt’s only responsibility
Says Nahid Islam

ICT Adviser Nahid Islam holds a meeting with Commonwealth Assistant Secretary-General Professor Luis Franceschi at the office of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology at the Secretariat on Monday, November 18, 2024. Photo: PID

Just holding elections is not the sole responsibility of the current interim administration, since it is a revolutionary government, not a caretaker, Nahid Islam, adviser to the posts, telecommunications, and information technology ministry, said yesterday.

"Various commissions have already been formed for institutional reforms, and polls will be held after the reforms are completed," he said.

The adviser made the remarks during a meeting with Commonwealth Assistant Secretary-General Prof Luis Franceschi at the ministry's office, said a press release of the ministry.

Mentioning that the judicial process to ensure justice for the victims of mass killings during the July-August uprising is ongoing, he said the government requires assistance from the Commonwealth to ensure an impartial trial.

He also sought support from the Commonwealth nations in building a new Bangladesh.

Nahid mentioned that the interim government has received support from all over the world, which is still pouring in.

Prof Franceschi praised the current government's efforts towards democratic reforms and assured that the Commonwealth would support the ongoing reform initiatives, including electoral process reforms, in every possible way.

He stated that it is the Commonwealth's commitment to work with the interim government to build an inclusive, prosperous, and discrimination-free Bangladesh, said the release.

"The Commonwealth is always with Bangladesh, and it is keen to work with the country in areas such as education, information technology, media, cyber security, and artificial intelligence," added Franceschi.

Nahid reiterated that the interim government is working for the country's transition from an autocratic or non-democratic regime to a democratic one.

He stressed the importance of support from the Commonwealth countries in this regard, saying that the interim government is ready to take any action that serves the national interest.

Posts and Telecommunications Secretary Mushfiqur Rahman, acting ICT secretary Muhammad Mehedi Hasan, Commonwealth Adviser and Head of Asia Dinusha Nihara, along with other senior officials, were present at the meeting.​

 

[Saif]

A lot remains to be done by the government

Prof Yunus’s speech marks 100 days of the interim government

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A lot remains to be done by the government
Prof Yunus’s speech marks 100 days of the interim government

VISUAL: STAR

Amid myriad issues jostling for public attention, it was refreshing to see Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus deliver a speech conveying focused purpose and optimism at a time when deep-seated sociopolitical divisions threaten to overshadow the aspirations that led to the mass uprising over three months ago. His 34-minute address, marking the 100 days of the interim government, also reflected a sense of accountability that we hope will resonate across his administration. However, while he was quite forthcoming and persuasive on certain aspects—such as the ongoing reform drive and measures taken for the victims of the July-August uprising—he was less so on certain other aspects such as the economy, law and order, and, of course, the election timeline.

Prof Yunus has assured that an Election Commission would be formed "within a few days", and that the roadmap for the election would be issued as soon as decisions on electoral reforms are made. So far, the government has set up six commissions, including on electoral and constitutional reforms, which are expected to submit their reports between December and January. Prof Yunus said some essential reforms would be implemented during the election process which may delay the election "by a few months". This, along with his recent comment in an Al Jazeera interview about the government's tenure not extending beyond four years, has created an ambiguity that will test the patience of political parties, with BNP already expressing disappointment over the lack of a roadmap. The sooner the government comes clear on this issue, the better.

On other pressing issues, Prof Yunus's speech reflected some candour as he made no secret of the challenges we face with inflation. He said the economy is "getting stronger" after the disaster left by the ousted Awami League government, but the administration's performance in this regard, especially the persistently high commodity prices, has left a lot to be desired. On the state of law enforcement, he said the government is trying to boost the morale of the police, and that there has been "visible progress". This may be the case, but progress on this front has been much slower than expected, with media reports still painting a worrying scenario of crimes. As regards the government's initiatives for the victims of the uprising—which Prof Yunus highlighted in his address—there are areas that need to be expedited and streamlined, as recent protests by a group of injured protesters show.

These areas demonstrate the urgency to balance long-sought state reforms with immediate needs while navigating the prevailing political complexities. This is no easy task but the government must accomplish it anyway. That said, it cannot do all this on its own; political parties and citizen groups must also help with their patience, constructive criticism, and continuous feedback, keeping in mind the interests of the nation.​

 

[Saif]

Interim government’s term in Bangladesh not to exceed four years: Professor Yunus

Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus said that the tenure of the interim government should not exceed four years.

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Interim government’s term in Bangladesh not to exceed four years: Professor Yunus
Staff Correspondent 18 November, 2024, 14:07

Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.

Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus said that the tenure of the interim government should not exceed four years.

In Bangladesh, the tenure of an elected government is five years and there has been a recommendation to reduce the tenure to four years, therefore the interim government’s tenure should not exceed four years, said Yunus,

He made the observation in an interview with Qatar-based media network Al Jazeera while participating in the ongoing COP29 in Baku in Azerbaijan recently.

He also mentioned that the interim government might remain in power for a much lesser period depending on what the people and political parties want.

‘We are not a perpetual government. A regular government is for five years for example. The new constitution may say four years probably because people want to move faster. So it [the tenure of interim government] should be under four years for sure or it may be less,’ said Professor Muhammad Yunus.

He added that the tenure of the government would depend on the demand of the people and political parties.

‘If the political parties say forget about it [reforms], give elections, we will do it,’ he mentioned.

He said that political parties’ rush towards elections would mean the opportunity to reform Bangladesh might be lost.

‘The highlight of the whole government was reform because the whole student movement is to create a new Bangladesh. New Bangladesh is not just going to come through holding an election. The whole population of the country wanted something new, something different from the old,’ he said.

‘Bangladesh is kind of deep in corruption because of the system that we had for the past 16 years — mismanagement, misgovernance, the destroying of our institutions and all the policies, systems and institution gone down the drain,’ he said, adding that rebuilding the system ‘point by point, sector by sector’ will be a ‘big task’.

He said that the legal system, police system, the constitution and others must be reformed in order to realise people’s desires.

‘We have appointed commissions and they are supposed to submit reports at the end of December. There are two parallel things going on –– one is a preparation for elections and one is a preparation for reforms — and it is up to the people and political parties to decide which way to go,’ he articulated.

‘I did not say that I would be the head for four years. Our intention is to organise elections as soon as possible,’ he mentioned.

He also said that he would not contest in elections.

‘I am not a politician. I enjoy my role of what I have doing. At last stage of my life, I am not going to change that,’ said Yunus, who also added that Sheikh Hasina was destabilising Bangladesh by making speeches and calling for movements from India.

‘We drew the attention of the Indian authorities. You [India] are hosting her that is fine but also make sure that she does not create problems for us because then we have to go back and complain to you,’ mentioned Yunus, who added that the government would ask for Hasina’s extradition from India if she was found guilty in cases filed against her on charge of killing of students and mass people in student-led mass uprising.​

 

[Saif]

Hundred days of hope

It’s time we started walking away from exclusionary politics and towards inclusivity.

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Hundred days of hope
100 days of the interim government

VISUAL: SALMAN SAKIB SHAHRYAR

I was far from home attending a conference when I saw the tweet from Donald Trump. He was trying to tell the world that Bangladesh was in chaos, that minority communities here were being subjected to "barbaric violence." This was the same narrative that the Indian media has been promoting all along. It reminded me of a cartoon by Debashish Chakrabarty, whose work moved many during the days of the July uprising. The cartoon tells India, "Stop acting like you've lost your colony." The US president-elect's tweet reminded me that the India media isn't going to stop its propaganda against Bangladesh anytime soon.

Recently, while addressing the nation on the 100 days of the interim government's rule, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has warned of deep-rooted conspiracies against Bangladesh. It's a grim reality we face every day. The murderous dictator, Sheikh Hasina, fled the country on August 5 when millions marched on the streets of Dhaka. None of the parliament members were to be found. It was as though the Awami League, which had ruled the country for over 15 years, vanished into thin air. Unfortunately, it was too late for many. By then, Hasina had claimed the lives of at least 1,500 individuals, many of them children and students.

During AL's reign, the country's economy was pushed to the brink of collapse. Money laundering reached new heights, essentially bleeding the country dry. Now, we can feel this huge amount of black money playing its part in conspiracies against Bangladesh. Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of the former dictator, has been reported to have hired a US lobbying firm. There are also reports of a massive number of bot accounts on social media. Although the rank and file of the former ruling party have disappeared from the streets, they are still very much active online. Their role in creating divisions among the forces of the July movement and attacking prominent figures of the uprising seems well-organised. On top of that, the Indian state apparatus remains relentless in its propaganda against Bangladesh.

We must remain mindful of what is at stake. We must not forget brave souls like Abu Sayeed who gave their lives for a better Bangladesh. When we managed to overthrow the dictator, hopes understandably ran high. But now, after a hundred days, we must think practically. Because if we continue to tread down different paths leading to different visions for the nation, external forces will exploit this disunity to wreak havoc in the country. Thus, no time can be wasted in finding a common ground. Open dialogue among the forces of the uprising is paramount.

During the July uprising, the entire nation was united for one purpose alone: the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. People from all walks of life joined the movement. Different political parties, with different visions for Bangladesh's future, came together to address the immediate threat. When the edifice of AL's fascism collapsed, however, that single uniting goal was gone. For over a decade, we had lived in an environment where only a few dared to speak, and those who did were often tortured or forcibly disappeared. Now, in the newfound freedom, everyone has found their voice. There are countless gatherings and seminars across the country. People are flooding auditoriums, participating in debates about what the new nation should look like. When people speak their minds, differences of opinion naturally emerge. That is the essence of democracy—people agreeing to disagree. However, we must not lose sight of the fact that there are strong forces at play, both domestic and foreign, that would exploit any opportunity to disrupt the unity among the forces of the uprising. This is why it is crucial to find a bottom line upon which all forces can agree.

Undoubtedly, the interim government has many shortcomings. Prices have not come down as expected. Garment workers in some factories are still owed their arrears, forcing them to continue protests. Public disorder still remains a concern. These issues—to name just a few—need to be addressed as we work towards a greater unity. Improvements in these vital areas would surely enhance confidence in the interim government, paving the way for sustainable unity.

Finding the minimum to agree upon isn't that difficult. No one would question our desire for a fair electoral system that allows people to choose their leaders. People with diverse religious and cultural backgrounds participated equally in the uprising. The graffities on the walls dreamt of an inclusive Bangladesh where everyone—regardless of ethnicity, religion or political views—enjoys the same rights. Unity and equity among the people, while recognising our differences, is also something we can all agree upon. People took to the streets with the hope that the growing economic disparity would be reversed someday—another area of consensus. By holding onto this short list of achievable goals, we can remain united for the cause of Bangladesh while agreeing to disagree on the more complex issues.

We must remain mindful of what is at stake. We must not forget brave souls like Abu Sayeed who gave their lives for a better Bangladesh. When we managed to overthrow the dictator, hopes understandably ran high. But now, after a hundred days, we must think practically. Because if we continue to tread down different paths leading to different visions for the nation, external forces will exploit this disunity to wreak havoc in the country. Thus, no time can be wasted in finding a common ground. Open dialogue among the forces of the uprising is paramount.

What is happening in Bangladesh is not unique. Countries like Sudan, Egypt and Sri Lanka have all gone through similar experiences. In Sudan and Egypt, the divide between liberals and Islamists led to civil war, while Sri Lanka fared better in establishing a pluralistic society. Attempts to exclude or annihilate one's political opponents lead only to chaos, and rarely succeed. Over the past 15 years, the Awami League has done everything possible to eliminate its political opponents, which eventually only strengthened opposition. This should serve as a warning to those who continue to promote division. It's time we started walking away from exclusionary politics and towards inclusivity. If we fail to do so, fascism will inevitably return, in one form or another.

Manzur-al-Matin is an advocate of the Supreme Court and a freelance anchor at Channel 24.​