Bangladesh is now at a crossroads. Politics as usual will only waste the victory of the people. The challenge in front of the interim government is to put Bangladesh back on the path of genuine democracy, writes Mohammad Zaman
BANGLADESH is faced with many tricky challenges in its quest for transition to a truly democratic system of governance. The student-led mass uprising of July-August 2024 forced Sheikh Hasina to flee the country after her 15-year iron-fisted rule, albeit under the fa莽ade of a democratic system of government. In 2021, when the country reached it 50-year milestone, many experts recognised the significant gains that her government achieved in infrastructure, economic growth, poverty reduction, women鈥檚 empowerment, longer life expectancy and literacy. However, over the years, there was also extreme inequality in income, pounded by corruption, cronyism and almost complete disenfranchisement of the rights and representation of the people through sham elections.
As the leader of the party and the government, Hasina turned an autocrat and authoritarian ruler, ultimately running the country as a government of, what one analyst called, 鈥楬asina League鈥� devoid of any participation and/or decision-making by the Awami League as the governing political party. She brought the party to her knees and forced party people to submit and remain subservient to her ego and wishes. The uprising, with demands for the abolition of quota for public jobs for the dependents of the 1971 war veterans, very quickly turned into a mass movement that brought down the Hasina government like a house of cards. The anger of the students and masses against Hasina that spilled onto the street in 2024 ultimately took a toll both on Sheikh Hasina and her legacy.
The sweeping reform agenda by the interim government of Dr Muhammad Yunus that replaced Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 seems ready to address the issues, with the hope for an inclusive and peaceful democratic transition. Indeed, the young student leaders, who led the mass movement, stated in clear terms to establish a new Bangladesh with democratic rights and freedom for all. The interim government has in less than six months arguably succeeded in bringing some stability, improved law and order and appointed commissions for the much-needed reforms to steer the country towards free and fair elections. In sum, the government has put the country on track although consistent high inflation is causing economic pain, with worker unrest in the garment sector remaining a major concern. Experts fear that soaring prices of food and fuel and a powerful syndicate controlling key sectors may block any meaningful economic and social transformation.
It appears that the interim government is trying to strike a balance between competing demands of various progressive forces and fundamentalist groups 鈥� both within and outside the government. The demand for elections by some political parties without real institutional reforms would not bring about any good for the country. As witnessed in the past, elections are not the 鈥榗ure鈥� or remedy for all hurdles ahead. Despite this, many parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, are waiting in the wings for power. Amid the current politicking, right-wing zealots and fanatics who opposed the creation of Bangladesh are talking about ideological 鈥榬e-branding鈥� of the country, with attacks on the Bengali identity and its images. Both Jamaat and Shibir, along with their allies, are trying to make a political comeback with an alternative Islamic model to rule the country. Their resurgence in politics during the transition is noticeable after a strict curb on its activities during the Hasina era.
Much to the dismay of many, the interim government has removed Sheikh Mujib鈥檚 picture from offices, signalling a shift and, perhaps, a new course without any baggage of the history and legacies of Bangladesh鈥檚 independence. The Bangladesh Bank has also taken a move to gradually phase out customary picture of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from currency notes. According to some experts, while Hasina鈥檚 government did excesses on ensuring Mujib鈥檚 seal on everything as the father of the nation, the removal of Sheikh Mujib鈥檚 picture shows the intent of the interim government, perhaps more so by a group of students, to crush every symbol of Bangladesh鈥檚 history. The government has already banned the Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League. Now, there is a call for banning the Awami League as a political party. There are reports of people being harassed for chanting Joy Bangla or victory for Bangladesh. At the same time, we hear a loud noise of Inqilab zindbad. Quite alarming, to say the least! Bangladesh in transition does not need a resurgent Jamaat politics.
The mass uprising was not to erase the history of Bangladesh, but to establish democracy and the rights of the people. The political development in the country sounds like erosion of Bangladesh鈥檚 history and legacy. These are ominous and alarming signs. The history of 1971 cannot be erased or rewritten. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a folk hero who, among others, inspired the Bengali nation to rise up against injustice, leading to the independence of the country. Analysts and political observers are of the view that any amount of vandalised and defaced statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman cannot vilify or defame his legacy and footprint from Bangladesh鈥檚 history. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman should not be judged by what the government of the Hasina League did. Sheikh Hasina and her cronies should be brought to justice for misdeeds, the abuse of power, corruption and the violation of rights. The Hasina government made a lot of mistakes. The Jamaat-e-Islami, which opposed the Bangladesh movement for independence, cannot make up for Hasina government鈥檚 past misdeeds.
Bangladesh is now at a crossroads. Politics as usual will only waste the victory of the people. The challenge in front of the interim government is to put Bangladesh back on the path of genuine democracy. What Bangladesh needs is a democratic governance model rooted in the ideal of justice, accountability and opportunities for all and yet honour the history, culture and identity of the country. The country is expecting the dawn of a new future.
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Dr Mohammad Zaman ([email protected]) is a writer and columnist.