The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government has completed its first six months in office, but opposition leaders have branded its performance a failure, citing rising prices, energy shortages, poor law and order, politicization and an inability to address the country’s major problems.
The BNP formed the government with a majority in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Six months into its tenure, debate is now intensifying over how much of its 31-point election manifesto, which it pledged to voters before the election, has been implemented and how successfully it has been able to govern the country.
Opposition leaders say the government has failed to meet even people’s basic needs.
They have pointed to the rising prices of essential commodities, the fuel crisis, and the poor state of gas and electricity supplies as key indicators of the government’s failure. They have also expressed disappointment over the lack of expected improvement in law and order.
Some opposition leaders have described the government’s first six months as a state of chaos.
They have urged the government to take initiatives to address national crises by prioritizing broad public opinion regardless of political affiliation and working together to find solutions.
They have also called on the government to move away from politicization and ensure that competent people are placed in appropriate positions.
Jamaat finds no success in government’s first six months
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former lawmaker Mia Golam Parwar said he could find no success in the government’s first six months.
“Everywhere is filled with their syndicates, politicization and corruption. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul himself has given the certificate of bribery and corruption,” he said.
Parwar said the government did not appear to believe that there was an opposition party in the country.
“Various cards, contracts and appointments—all have been kept among their party people. They have failed to demonstrate competence in the cabinet,” he said.
He said the country was facing severe problems with fuel and electricity, while prices of essential commodities remained in a state of extreme disorder.
“The government’s revenue board will not be able to meet its target. The economy is somehow surviving only on the remittances sent by expatriates who are working hard. Besides, there are no exports, no investment; there is stagnation everywhere,” he said.
Assessing the government’s six-month performance, the Jamaat secretary general identified what he called its biggest failure: rejecting the verdict of the referendum.
“They have directly betrayed the people through this. The prime minister himself asked people to vote ‘yes’ in the referendum, yet now he himself has broken his own words. There can be no greater double standard than this,” he said.
NCP says BNP government has created chaos
Kurigram-2 lawmaker and National Citizen Party (NCP) Joint Convener Dr Atik Mujahid said the BNP government had created a chaotic situation within its first six months.
“This government has failed everywhere. In one word, it has created a chaotic situation in the country in these six months,” he told Dhaka Tribune.
He said the government had failed to ensure people’s security and address the gas, electricity and fuel crises.
“They are actually unable to solve any problem. They are only busy with politicization,” he said.
Mujahid said the government had several ways to improve the situation and provide some relief to the people.
“In this case, the government has to work in the national interest. Everyone has to work together. Everyone is our people; everyone is one of us. We have to move forward with everyone,” he said.
He said competent people should be placed in the right positions.
“With this mindset, competent people have to be placed in the right positions. Otherwise, nothing will work,” he said.
The NCP leader also called on the government to coordinate and work with the opposition and all other political parties.
He said politics was no longer the same as it had been in the past.
“Now, politics means everyone has to be included at the national level. Otherwise, it is not possible to run the state properly,” he said.
“As much as possible, everyone’s participation or inclusiveness should be ensured in matters of national interest.”