The importance of coming together to rebuild Bangladesh and achieve lasting change.
We are in a transitional period, recovering from autocratic oppression, and striving for democracy. We, the people, under our interim government, have a crucial role to play in preventing the rise of another oppressive power but we must do so with unity, civility, and patience. Our collective strength and unwavering commitment to democratic principles will determine the success of this transition.
REBUILDING THE BANKING SECTOR
The previous government accumulated 18 lakh 35 thousand crore taka in debt from national and international sources. Default loans now stand at a record high of 2 lakh 11 thousand crore, according to the Bangladesh Bank. Analysts have said that we have come to this dire situation through decades of corruption by politically influential people. The actual default amount is significantly higher, possibly more than twice, according to the IMF.
The general population have had no part to play in the destruction of the economy vis-à-vis the banking sector but we do have a role in its repair. We need to have a firm understanding of banking, financial and monetary processes and encourage initiatives such as the implementation of participatory finance policy and the adoption of effective fiscal policies, the reduction of inflation to a bearable rate, increasing adequate remittance flows and the elimination of market syndicates. For a lower-middle-income country like Bangladesh, a financially literate population has the potential to control corruption and achieve a meaningful level of banking sector stability.
REESTABLISHING LOCAL GOVERNANCE
After Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s first address to the nation on 25 August, where he called for unity, it is clear that the interim government wishes the voice of the masses to be heard. However, a communication channel for the average citizen where they could speak for themselves or their community has never existed. A good local government can serve that need provided we elect the right people.
Under the rule of the previous government, local government was never given a chance to be effective. Rather, the focus was on how local government could be kept submissive to those in power. Over the last 15 years, every local representative was a muscle for the central government dedicated to serving its own interest rather than the people’s.
Under the interim government, 12 city corporation mayors, 60 district council chairmen, all upazilla council chairmen, vice chairmen, female vice chairmen, and municipality mayors, a total of 1,876 public representatives, have been removed. The people of these regions now have the responsibility to choose a representative who will serve their communities first, who will not be self-serving but instead act on a non-partisan basis. These elected representatives will work as the bridge, the channel, to convey their needs up the ladder to the central government.
The people of the country can directly impact change if we come together to build solutions that alleviate poverty.
UTILISING EXPATRIATE KNOWLEDGE
Bangladesh has highly educated expatriates from around the world who are eager to contribute their intellect, experience and wealth to rebuilding the nation. They are willing to be involved in creating world-class employment opportunities in Bangladesh and aid in the nation’s economic, social and cultural development. Their skills in areas like business, technology and research can significantly carry the economic and social progress of the country to new heights.
This is not a newfound desire that expatriates are having after 5 August. Time and again, they have tried to work with previous governments, through seminars, proposals and workshops, but were put off or discouraged by the party-pleasing sentiment of the government representatives they spoke with.
Our existing political parties have a lack of experience in these important issues, limited knowledge of modern technology, and narrow self-interest in their current leadership, meaning they alone will not succeed in the project of making widely acceptable policies that make meaningful employment opportunities, life-long learning programs, skills development programs, sustainability initiatives and resource utilisation. Our education system has also not been sufficient to produce effective policymakers. The eagerness of the expatriates looking to contribute their merit, expertise, and experience in making these a possibility, are a welcome opportunity, one we should all embrace.
FOSTERING SELF-EMPOWERMENT
Every human being wants to stand on their own two feet through efforts, attempts, failures and successes of their own devices. The role of the state is to enable an environment that inspires self-empowerment but our state has never been justly equitable. The poor live hand-to-mouth trapped in an ever-deepening abyss with no lifeline to save them from a financial trap if they ever seek a loan.
Charitable donations and alms will always be necessary to support those in extreme poverty, but if our work can ensure that every citizen of this country has the opportunity for self-empowerment, then the potential for the development of individual capabilities can become one of the core foundations of our nation.
We need to collectively exercise patience to give the interim government reasonable and adequate time to strengthen control while simultaneously repairing the institutions that have been damaged to the core.
CONDUCTING CIVIL BEHAVIOUR
More than fifteen years of pent-up frustration, helplessness and desperation have manifested in public anger. But this anger has been misdirected, evident from the events that followed 5 August. Several people, perhaps misguided or blind-sided, have rejected the country’s history, and its foundation, and expressed extremist views. There have been multiple instances of destruction of public and private property, arson attacks, thefts, robberies, assaults, and murders. There is still a significant lack of trust in law enforcement agencies, and as more videos of police brutality and barbarism surface, its reinstatement keeps getting delayed further.
This cannot go on. We cannot take it upon ourselves to seek justice outside of the law. If this continues, we risk moving towards civil unrest which can spiral out of control. If that happens then the lives lost in the movement would be in vain. We must come together to restore law and order, advocate for peace and unity, and restore civil conduct.
EXERCISING PATIENCE
The ousted fled the nation leaving it in total disarray, scarred by decades of corruption and political infestation at every branch of the government. Those silenced over the years have finally found their voice, and have taken to the streets to have their demands heard. Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has urged the nation to be patient as the interim government is doing everything it can to bring about meaningful reform before the general elections.
Making regulations effective, restoring political stability, and fulfilling people’s demands will take time. The previous government had damaged universities, trade unions, companies, banks, and virtually every institution and organisation in the country. Corruption runs deep and without new or revised laws, which are sure to be in place, these crises cannot be overcome. However, no matter how many laws we make and enforce, they will not work right away. The system is too broken right now.
In this pivotal moment of our nation’s history, the strength of our future lies in our ability to come together with purpose and determination. By uniting our efforts, embracing our shared responsibilities, and committing to the common good, we can rebuild a stronger, more just society.
