BNP senior leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury on Wednesday warned that Bangladesh is gradually going downhill as it has failed to transition to a democratic order even after one year of the mass uprising.
“One year is actually a long time. The country should have transitioned to a democratic order through the electoral process long ago. Because of this delay, Bangladesh is going downhill day by day,” he said while speaking at a seminar.
Khasru said history shows that countries which quickly embraced democracy through elections after revolutions or uprisings fared better, while those that delayed faced economic collapse, social unrest, and even civil war.
“The countries that created trouble after their uprisings, making various demands and excuses, lost their democracy and destroyed their economies. These countries also experienced civil wars, and society became deeply divided. This is why elections must be held without further delay,” he explained.
The BNP Standing Committee member said the absence of democracy and an elected government is worsening the situation, widening the gap between the interim government and the people.
“This gap is causing law enforcement agencies and government officials to fail in their duties. We are witnessing a collapse in law and order, lack of security, and a business environment that’s simply not viable. Factories are not receiving new investments because no one is willing to invest their time, money, or resources in this uncertainty,” he said.
The seminar, titled Post-July Political Thoughts: Which Direction Bangladesh is Walking?, was organised by the School of Leadership USA (Bangladesh Chapter) at a city hotel.
Khasru warned that Bangladesh has already lost more than a year without a proper democratic process, deepening political and economic instability. Despite hosting international summits, he noted, the country has failed to attract new investment.
“At a recent summit, no new investments were made, even though many current investors attended. However, now, with the announcement of the election, we are starting to see some signs of hope. It is clear that investors are waiting for the elections to make their decisions,” he said.
He urged all political parties to recognise the change in people’s expectations following the end of Sheikh Hasina’s rule.
“After Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian rule ended, there has been a huge change in the mindset of the people of Bangladesh. Their expectations and aspirations are sky-high, but if we fail to understand and acknowledge these changes, political leaders and parties will have no future,” he warned.
Khasru stressed that parties must stop fighting for credit over the uprising.
“If we continue to fight over credit for the movement, Bangladesh has no future. The credit belongs to the people, to those who made sacrifices for the country, not to individuals,” he said.
Drawing a parallel with 1971, he added: “Those who fought on the front lines returned to their roles. Teachers went back to their schools, and students returned to their colleges. We need to move beyond the idea of using the freedom struggle for personal gain. It’s time to focus on building the future of our country.”