Who should we really choose as our political leaders? Should we continue to elect those who rely on muscle power, have a gang of loyal goons, and get rich by forcefully collecting money from local businessmen and ordinary citizens? Should we trust people who are not properly educated, who cannot even speak for our country confidently in international forums? The answer to all of these questions is obviously “no.” And yet -- haven’t we done just that for decades?
We have seen it over and over again. We know some people are not fit to lead, that they do not have the knowledge, the experience, or the moral compass to run a country. Still, we vote for them. Maybe it is fear. Maybe it is habit. Maybe it’s because we have lost hope in change. But then we expect miracles from them -- when all they do is loot public funds, launder money, work only for their own benefit, and disappoint us year after year.
Over time, it is like the whole country silently agreed: Politics is not for good people. It is for the loud, the corrupt, the aggressive. We started believing that if you are educated and honest, politics is not your field. “Just go abroad and settle,” we tell our brightest minds. Let the criminals run the show.
But now, for the first time in our history, something has shifted. After the July Revolution, we are seeing a spark -- a real hope for change. Not just in politics, but in our mindset. In how we imagine our country’s future. We are finally thinking about economic development, social progress, and a Bangladesh we can be proud of.
The interim government is quietly but effectively making moves -- building international relationships, strengthening ties with economic and political powerhouses, and opening doors to global markets. They are also reforming things from within, not with loud words, but with meaningful actions. Our expectations are rising, and rightly so.
And we are seeing respected figures like Professor Dr Yunus bring back bright, successful professionals from abroad -- people who are ready to contribute to rebuilding this country. That alone gives many of us hope.
But now imagine this: What if, too soon, the government calls for elections and hands everything back to the same political parties we have already seen and suffered from? What then?
It is like the whole country silently agreed: Politics is not for good people. It is for the loud, the corrupt, the aggressive
It is not like these leaders have studied political science in Ivy League universities or shown any success in managing national affairs. They have been in power before. Multiple times. And what did we get? A broken system. Mismanagement. Corruption. Nepotism. Money laundering. A complete failure to lead.
Those of us born in the 80s have seen it all. We have seen what these so-called leaders are capable of -- how they manipulate the system to benefit themselves and their people while the rest of the nation suffers. It is the same faces, the same empty promises, and the same results: chaos.
Did thousands of students march the streets in July and sacrifice their lives just so we could return to this same broken cycle? Did they rise up for another meaningless election that changes nothing but the faces? I do not believe that. And I do not think the people of this country believe that either.
This time, we want something different. We want a radical transformation. We want to end corruption, favoritism, and misrule. We want a system that works. We want good governance, law and order, a justice system that actually delivers. We want to live in a country where we can find jobs, get a good education, access reliable healthcare, eat safe food, and breathe clean air.
We do not want to flee the country anymore. We do not want to dream of foreign lands. We want to stay here, build our futures here, raise our children here -- and one day, we want to die here with dignity.
Elections are important. But even more important is this: We need systemic change. We need leaders who are qualified, honest, educated, and visionary. We do not want the same corrupt people in charge anymore. The current government is trying to make a difference, and we see that. But we also want them to act faster and more boldly. The changes they are making must be visible, impactful, and continuous.
The government should also invest in public awareness. Teach people how to recognize a good leader. How to vote wisely. How to question and hold leaders accountable. If we miss this opportunity, we may have to wait another fifty years for real change.
This is our moment. We cannot afford to waste it. For the sake of our country, our children, and the dreams of the thousands who fought and fell in the streets -- we must make it count.
Md Kawsar Uddin, Associate Professor, Department of English and Modern Languages, IUBAT- International University of Business Agriculture and Technology.
