In Bangladesh, both the apolitical people and the opposition supporters are traditionally critical of the incumbent governments, while office-bearers, ruling party leaders, and supporters try to woo the people by taking different measures.
As seen in the past, criticisms and demands for a proper remedy mount -- on the streets as well as on social media -- when a government fails, stumbles, or neglects to ensure a fair and affordable price of daily commodities and a smooth supply of utilities (water, electricity, and gas). The people also want, and are entitled to, easy access to the other basic needs -- quality education, health services, clothing, land prices, and house rent.
While the country has made some remarkable progress in these fields since its independence in 1971, as part of their political pledges, successive governments have chosen different priority areas that have long-term implications, including the construction of mega projects and advancing in the IT sector, to boost income generation, employment, agricultural production, exports, and economic growth, among other key areas.
The ruling Awami League led the country’s Liberation War and established the Constitution with a visionary plan to ensure sustainable and equitable growth for its people. But the march towards a smart nation stumbled in 1975 after the assassination of the AL supremo and then-President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is also regarded as the Father of the Nation and called Bangabandhu for his revolutionary contribution to the country’s struggle for independence.
The two successive military governments and the BNP ruled the country till 1996, and then the AL came to power for the first time in 21 years. Later, the BNP returned to power through the election in 2001 and the AL in 2008.
Since then, public awareness and engagement in government activities have significantly increased -- thanks to the advancement in providing digital tools and higher electricity generation, literacy rate, exports, and remittances.
AL’s triumphs
From being one of the poorest nations at birth in 1971, Bangladesh reached lower-middle-income status in 2015. It is on track to graduate from the United Nations' Least Developed Countries (LDC) list in 2026 and is aspiring to be an upper middle-income country by 2031, according to the World Bank.
In the fiscal year 2021-2022, Bangladesh registered a GDP growth rate of 7.2% despite the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the growth plummeted in the following year to 6.03% and may stand at 5.6% in the outgoing fiscal year when the country’s foreign reserves remain on edge.
Experts and government policymakers blame the Russia-Ukraine war and sanctions for the downward trend, but a rising trend in exports and remittances may bring some good news for the country’s economy later this year.
In the last 15 years since AL came to power, per capita income increased five times, budget size increased 12 times, the Annual Development Program increased 13 times, GDP size increased 12 times, the foreign exchange reserve increased 36 times, export earnings increased five times, annual remittance increased six times, and foreign investment increased six times, the ruling party says.
On the other hand, wages for workers increased nine times, the poverty rate declined from 41.51% to 18.7%, and the extreme poverty rate was reduced five times.
The AL has increased power generation capacity by eight times in the last 15 years, while the electricity consumption rate rose from 28% to 100%. The literacy rate has increased to 76.8%, while there has been a 22-fold enhancement in technical education.
Drinking water coverage increased from 55% to 98.8%, sanitary latrines increased from 43.28% to 97.32%, infant mortality decreased from 84 per thousand to 21, mortality decreased from 360 per 100,000 to 156, and the average human lifespan now stands at 72.8 years.
These successes are a testament to the visionary plans of Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of Bangladesh’s founding father, who has been leading the AL for 43 years. However, her government has faced severe criticism since 2009 due to political rivalry and public displeasure, especially on social media. On the other hand, opposition parties got the opportunity to wage street movements regularly while highlighting issues of public concern. On most of the issues, the government could not give a befitting response and also failed to improve the situation.
There is no doubt that the country’s economy has grown significantly and is becoming a major hub for investment, but the absence of democratic practices in all spheres, chaos in the commodity market, rising prices of utilities, widespread corruption and money laundering, abuse of laws, and a culture of impunity are putting stigma on the government.
Democracy, human rights, and equality
Since the beginning of the century, the United Nations and several developed countries have been campaigning to ensure democracy, human rights, and to abolish discrimination of all kinds.
Bangladesh too, has started to follow this global trend and has achieved significant milestones in these areas alongside the Sustainable Development Goals.
The mass people -- mainly the youth population -- and the opposition parties want the government to take a liberal approach and work more to create a democratic atmosphere where human rights and equality will get priority.
Such an approach comes with multifaceted positive outcomes -- inclusiveness, higher productivity, and higher employment -- and will make Bangladesh a happier nation.
New cabinet, new hopes
Since the announcement of the election schedule in mid-November, the AL has surprised the nation with some groundbreaking steps -- not giving nominations to the members of parliament, including three state ministers, who made headlines for inefficiency and wrong steps.
Therefore, the 12th parliament is about to get a facelift, with around 100 new faces from the Awami League and independents set to take their seats in it.
Moreover, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has earned applause by excluding 15 ministers, 11 state ministers, and two deputy ministers from the previous term since some of them were the reason for public suffering, waste of money, and a decline in the country’s (and the AL’s) reputation globally.
The inclusion of eight new faces as ministers (out of 25) and six state ministers (out of 11) has come as a surprise and created hope among the people.
However, critics and well-wishers suggest that the prime minister take action -- voluntarily -- whenever a minister, state minister, or MP is found involved in any wrongdoing, instead of taking mass dismissals at the end of their tenure to mitigate losses.
The only instance of such exclusion in the last five years was the dismissal of the then-state minister for information and broadcasting from both the government and the party for his irresponsible and objectionable remarks.
If this were the case, a dozen other ministers should have been sacked during the previous tenure, while legal steps could be taken against a number of other Cabinet members for involvement in corruption and other crimes.
Better late than never: The new government can now initiate investigations and take tough action against the former ministers, state ministers, and MPs based on the results to set an example.
Making parliament vibrant
Since the Jatiya Party (JaPa) -- opposition in the 11th Parliament -- has not gotten a sizeable number of seats and the country’s second largest party -- the BNP -- did not participate in the election, the ruling party must take appropriate measures to ensure a congenial atmosphere for the members of the opposition JaPa and independents in the House.
By allowing constructive discussions on different issues and before the passage of any laws, the speaker and the leader of the House can play a key role in upholding democracy.
Telecasting parliament proceedings and standing committee meetings on all private TV channels can promote accountability and help remove mistrust from people’s minds.
Reforms and actions
To cover the loss of not having a strong opposition and be in line with the AL’s election pledges, the government and the ruling party should rectify the mistakes and excesses they have made in the last five years and move forward with their mission to make the country a “Smart Bangladesh” based on modern technology.
As the first priority, the government should make every effort to keep prices within the purchasing power of all by engaging the relevant authorities to monitor the supply chain and breaking the syndicates.
To reduce dependency on food imports and to check the prices of agricultural inputs, the government should promote mechanization of the integrated agricultural system, increase production, and develop agricultural products and food processing industries.
Creating employment opportunities by developing infrastructure and industries up to the village level and ensuring education and capacity building for all will help increase employment and economic growth.
Without delay, the government should make health services affordable to low-income people and ensure individual and social security by including all in the universal pension system.
Promoting the practice of a democratic system at all levels, making law enforcement agencies efficient in the use of modern technology, and ensuring their accountability while eradicating communalism and all forms of terrorism and militancy will be a game changer for the government in the next few years.
While prioritizing these issues, the government should ensure that the right people are given the right tasks without nepotism, that strict action is taken immediately in cases of corruption and waste of public money, and that members of the opposition and civil society have a voice in nation-building.
Probir Kumar Sarker is a journalist and researcher.