THE interim government that assumed office on August 8 after the fall of the brutally repressive regime of the Awami League has so far been enjoying social and political legitimacy, largely because it is the outcome of an all pervasive student-led mass uprising. The public at large has apparently welcomed the government because of its pledge to uphold students鈥� aspirations for democratic changes and for the inclusion of student leaders as advisers into the governance structure. Now that the portfolios have been distributed among the chief and other advisers, various sections of society have raised concerns, and reasonably so, about the terms of reference and the tenure of the transitional government. The chief adviser, while addressing different international communities recently, has briefly mentioned that the government鈥檚 ultimate goal is to hold free and fair elections, but it plans to do so after major reforms in different state institutions that have been destroyed by the corrupt, undemocratic and repressive governance strategies of the Awami League. The interim government formed under unusual circumstances must not forget that it is transitional in nature and must have a clear political and economic reform agenda and a time-bound, tentative or otherwise, implementation plan.
The chief adviser to the interim government has been meeting expert communities and groups persecuted under the Awami League regime and the international communities but has so far made no effort to inform the greater public of the country of its reform agendas and tenure. The chief advisor, in his address to the third Voice of Global South Summit 2024 hosted by India on August 17, said that the government was committed to ensuring a transition to inclusive and pluralistic democracy and creating an environment in which free, fair and participatory elections can be held. The chief adviser, while briefing the diplomats of different countries and resident representatives of the United Nations agencies in Dhaka on August 18, said that the main task of the government is to arrange fair elections as soon as possible. But before that, a conducive environment must be created by major reforms in the judiciary, civil administration, law enforcement agencies and mass media. There is public consensus about the need for reforms in state institutions, but what comes as surprising is that the government that was installed as a result of the mass uprising does not feel obliged to inform the public of its mandate and vision first. It is, rather, focused on proving its allegiance to various international quarters, a political tendency common among the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. This is a pattern that suggests that the government is more accountable to the international community than to the people of Bangladesh and it is unacceptable.
The interim government must, therefore, immediately make public its terms of reference and agenda, announce the tentative tenure of the government and let people know of the width and breadth of the reforms that it has on its platter.