Tanzina (17) is a medical technology student from Dhaka. She grew up in Korail with her family.
It’s late afternoon when we meet for adda in Korail, one of Dhaka’s largest slums. The sun is sinking into a deep, dark orange, casting long shadows over the corrugated tin rooftops. The air is thick with the smells of frying onions and damp clothes drying on bamboo poles. The narrow streets are bustling, alive with people going about their day, each with their own quiet struggle.
It has been months since Sheikh Hasina resigned, but the chaos hasn’t settled. The interim government, which took power on August 8, is struggling. Political parties are growing impatient, and the excitement that once filled the streets is beginning to fade.
People are starting to ask questions they dared not ask before: Was this really the “new Bangladesh” they fought for? Or just another transition in a cycle of broken promises?
“Everyone is so excited,” Tanzina says. “They talk about revolution and a new Bangladesh like it’s a fresh start. But no one asks what it felt like to live through the hell of the last 16 years. And no one asks what it feels like now. Where is justice? Where is the better system?”
For Tanzina, the Monsoon Revolution might have changed the government, but the question still remains: Did it really change anything at all?
A deep neglect for politics
“I never thought of myself as political,” Tanzina tells me. “I was just a student. My biggest worries were exams, tuition fees, and how to find a better job than my parents.”
“I hate politics. Politics are ugly and, in Bangladesh, often deadly.”
But politics in Bangladesh isn’t something you can ignore. It’s embedded in every part of life -- it’s in the air you breathe, the streets you walk, the food you can or can’t afford.
“My mom is a local BNP leader in Korail,” Tanzina continues. “She always has been. Even in the last 16 years, when the government tried to suppress the party and shut down free speech, the spirit of the BNP never died in our community. It’s part of our history.”
Her words reflect a broader challenge that diplomats and analysts have long recognized. Jon F Danilowicz, a retired Senior Foreign Service Officer and former Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Dhaka, joined our conversation via email.
“For me, the fundamental challenge to Bangladesh’s democratic development is the ‘winner takes all’ approach that pervades the country’s political system. In the past, as parties alternated their tenures in office, each used their time in power to ensure that the benefits were distributed to their supporters. My hope is that the current moment presents an opportunity to break this cycle.”
Danilowicz also reflects on the deeper struggles of citizens at the grassroots level.
“As long as the majority of Bangladesh’s citizens continue to struggle with meeting their basic needs, it will be difficult to have them focus on more esoteric issues related to the political system. These citizens are fundamentally risk-averse. The overly centralized nature of Bangladesh’s government and politics also makes it harder for citizens to feel connected to their rulers.”
Change is not an event but a process. So are reforms. A movement may bring down a government, but it takes years of work to build something better in its place
The system lives on
“Hasina is gone. But the system? It’s still here.”
Jon Danilowicz echoes this concern.
“Removing a leader doesn’t automatically create democracy,” he writes. “Bangladesh still faces challenges like over-centralization, suppression of the press, and a political culture where opposition is seen as an enemy rather than a necessary part of governance.”
The recent crackdown on journalists is a stark reminder of this reality. Mahfuz Anam, the chief editor of The Daily Star, pointed out on October 11 2024: “At least 129 journalists across Dhaka, Chattogram, Bogura, and Rajshahi have cases filed against them. Many face severe charges like murder and rioting. Some are in hiding, others live under house arrest, unable to work. So far, four have been arrested, but the rest live in fear of being harassed or detained.”
The numbers have risen dramatically since last October last year.
A core criticism of the former government of Sheikh Hasina was the blatant misuse of law to imprison, harass, and intimidate political opponents, critics, and members of the independent media. Activities by a section of political opportunists and vested groups may give rise to a perception that we are witnessing a revival of the same.”
Danilowicz stresses the importance of media freedom in shaping Bangladesh’s future.
“A free and independent media is a critical building block of democracy. In the past, governments have used multiple mechanisms to stifle freedom of speech and the media. Increasingly, digital freedom is a critical component to freedom of speech as information is spread more and more online. One way to prevent censorship is to have an empowered population that acts as citizen journalists.”
Finally, he reminds us that the path ahead will not be easy.
“It took many years for Bangladesh to reach the low that it did in summer 2024. It will take many years to undo the damage and move towards a stable democracy. But at a minimum, the country has reversed course and is now moving in the right direction. To succeed, Bangladeshis from all walks of life need to put the common good above their individual interests.”
His words bring a sense of clarity. Change is not an event but a process. So are reforms. A movement may bring down a government, but it takes years of work -- of civic engagement, accountability, and resilience -- to build something better in its place.
As the sun set over Korail, the streets remained restless, filled with those still struggling to find their place in this “new Bangladesh.” The revolution may have ended, but the work of building a just and democratic future has only begun.
Danilowicz leaves us with a final thought:
“Think about the future and the kind of country that they want their children and grandchildren to inherit.”
We thank Jon for giving us the opportunity for this interview and for strengthening our democratic rights by expressing our perspective.
Julia Wesemann is the Director, Growing Together. Tanzina is a medical technology student.
