A New Dawn Has Bechanced in Bangladesh

 

A vote revolution with smiling faces of voters betided on 7 January 2024 in the national polls in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Awami League is now poised to win a landslide victory in the elections. It is a significant victory for Bangladesh’s democracy, secularism, massive development works and true spirits of our glorious Liberation War of 1971. And definitely, it has ushered in a new era in Bangladesh.Many foreign and local election observers were allowed to monitor this voting revolution in Bangladesh. International monitors have largely praised the conduct of the election.

A loud and familiar chant would soon ring out across the country when the newly elected 12th parliament will go into session. “Joy Bangla! Joy Bangabandu!" the crowds will roar in unison, echoing the ruling AL party's election campaign slogan for PM Sheikh Hasina to get in there for the 5th time in the hope that Banglasesh's premier will deliver a new era of democracy, prosperity and peace. She has reached out to the voters and urged the nation to look forward and work towards helping the country's economy grow.

People hope the vision of a new and prosperous Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, we all want is a shared one and transcends political party lines. We hope PM Sheikh Hasina will pledge to act fairly and impartially, without fear or favour for people of all classes and of all religions. We believe she could see all the mistakes that she made in the past and she will learn many things from the past history and run the state affairs aright. She now has become the mother figure of all of us as people of this land so we must put our trust in her.

We are all Bangladesh’s people; what unites us is greater than what could ever divide us. Reprobated rulers – Gen Zia, Gen Ershad and Begum Zia divided us by rehabilitating the defeated forces of 1971 in every nook and corner of the country only to serve well their fiddling gains.

Through the engagement and re-engagement policy, the new government is opening a new chapter in our relations with the world, underpinned by mutual respect, shared principles and common values.The 12th parliamentary polls have marked a turning point in Bangladesh's democracy. The PM has repeatedly pledged to lead Bangladesh to a more democratic era.Now, we believe, we are promised a new dawn; the potential, under PM Sheikh Hasina’s party command, that a warm light will shine into the dark corners of society, banishing exploitation, joblessness, corruption and crime. We hope this will not be a delusive dawn at a time of gathering darkness. The sign of administrative dysfunction; of an inability to act in a coherent and holistic way, if any, will soon go away.

The exploited should join together to improve the lot of each and all. And in a Bangladesh context, the gaps at all levels are much greater and probably make the need and difficulty for united action greater still. But something radical is surely required when some elementary facts are taken into account. Because, far from any sign of a new dawn, the majority of Bangladesh’s people face the prospect of a chilly, lengthening and stormy economic and social night. These, and similar facts, should top the agenda, if the government’s promised economic developments are finally staged. Out of these may come some sound suggestions that may indicate, if not a new dawn, at least a glimmer of hope. We should wake up to this Bangladesh as well.  

There is a strong argument to be made for increasing public sector employment and the scope is too big here. This could be achieved by filling or creating, posts for core front line staff and for many more positions.Awami League has released a pro-youth election manifesto giving priority to balanced development of the country, quality education and employment opportunities for youth.

We know PM Sheikh Hasina and her party’s strengths; we see the best in her and AL and we are eager to live out the future they have designed together through their election pledges.

If we tot up, we must say whether political priorities will be dictated by economic motives is a matter which remains open to debate. We can only hope that heed is paid to the outstanding issues of good governance which are restraining Bangladesh from embarking on an inclusive economic development path, dictated by solid, transparent political commitments. This country stands at the cross-roads of history, after fifty-three years of independence.

Fifty-three years are a long time to change the face and fortunes of a country and its people to a greater extent. In all these years, for ordinary people in Bangladesh, our political leadership has always given them reasons for hope, as well as disappointment. The next five years could be singularly consequential for our country. They bring challenge as well as opportunity.

For all the past shortcomings in the past, if the AL’s manifestos are to be believed, people cannot be blamed for having the audacity to hope for more peace, progress and prosperity for the nation, it’s for all classes of people and it is for people of all religions on the same scale for the next five years.

Sheikh Hasina has enlivened people to make a difference in whatever way they can. To be the change-maker she wants, to be kind to everyone, and to always be ready with a hug, but most of all she has taught us to light up every day with a smile! She has never backed down from a challenge. We admire her perseverance; she always has kept her head up during the hardest times. We look up to her because she has the strength to never give up hope. She is a composer of politics in the landscape of Bangladesh.

Because of her unflagging work for her people to improve their lot, many international observers have also hailed her as the modern-day Joan of Arc.  She may be called the "Idol of the Masses.” It is aptly said, “If Rabi Thakur is the poet of thinking, reflection and thought, if Bangabandhu is the poet of politics, then Sheikh Hasina is the poetess of development.”

Despite developments, many problems are still prevalent in the country which calls for dire emergency needed actions for Bangladesh to master over them including all aspects of the environment, such as, climate change, deforestation, water-logging and an increase in CO2 emissions. Corruption is a breeding ground in the country. Instead of lessening, it is growing day by day. Corruption reduces the effectiveness of efforts to reduce poverty and assist growth. A vigorous and credible programme is needed to combat corruption in Bangladesh.

The spread of power away from the centre to local branches or governments is not taken as yet by Hasina’s government. So, everything is centralised to the Metropolitan Dhaka City. Dhaka is now an unfit or unsuitable to live in it.

Education is not trade. It is a cardinal necessity for the nation as a whole to develop it in tune with time in the spirit to cope up with other developed nations.

Many sciences and technology based educational institutions for quality educations are not grown-up as expected during the 10 years’ rule of Hasina. Road safety, traffic gridlock, water-logging, etc. are not taken proper care. These state of difficulties centre round the Metropolitan Dhaka City which need to have been resolved long before, but these are no-hopers for the government. Establishing metro-rails, elevated expressways, train lines, fly-overs, roads, by-pass roads, et al, are highly commendable jobs by Hasina’s government.

Bangladesh has an inspiring story of growth and development, aspiring to be an upper middle-income country by 2031.Its track record of growth rather makes people hopeful of achieving the status. Bangladesh showed significant development in many sectors that need to properly manage and nurture. To ensure growth, and faster improvement, there’s no alternative to robust investments, development of manpower and increased productivity.

One may hope to address the above-noted predicaments shall find a place in AL’s new government. Faced with urgent, economic and political problems, over the next five years, Sheikh Hasina is likely to have a challenging path to navigate in her bid to lead the country into a new era. But she has that much of courage and powerfulness like her great father to sail through her exams.And Bangladesh’s unbeatable butt in the direction of development shall continue by AL’s new government. Joy Bangla. Joy Bangabandhu.


Anwar A. Khan is a freedom
fighter who writes on politics
 and international issues.