Another govt exists within Interim administration: Debapriya

Renowned economist and public policy analyst Debapriya Bhattacharya has raised serious concerns over the transparency and neutrality of Bangladesh's interim government, suggesting the existence of a "parallel government" operating from within the official administration.

Speaking at a roundtable discussion hosted by Prothom Alo on Wednesday, Bhattacharya, a distinguished fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), stated, “It has become evident that another government exists within the one officially in power. This is no longer a secret — it’s an open reality. The current government must now prove its neutrality.”

The roundtable, titled "July Mass Uprising: One Year Experience and Future," was held at the Prothom Alo office in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka. The event began with a minute of silence in memory of the victims of a tragic Bangladesh Air Force jet crash into the Milestone School campus in Uttara.

Criticizing the interim government's performance, Bhattacharya noted that although it came to power promising to uphold the spirit of anti-discrimination, its economic reforms and management failed to reflect those values. “They speak of universal human rights and standing beside vulnerable communities, yet they haven't even identified those communities, let alone supported them,” he remarked.

Bhattacharya also voiced concern over the increasingly complex relationship between the administration and the military, calling it “a cause for public anxiety.” He emphasized that this has cast doubt over both the government’s neutrality and its governing capacity.

“The interim government must now prepare an exit plan,” he said. “If the Honourable Chief Adviser addresses the nation, he should make clear how he intends to end his tenure and which reforms he aims to complete. There must be a transparent roadmap.”

Highlighting the need to move forward, Bhattacharya stressed the importance of focusing on the next steps rather than dwelling on the past year. “Political parties must now release their election manifestos, and civil society, media, and entrepreneurs must critically engage with them — even protest if necessary. Governments will come and go, but the nation must continue to move forward,” he said.

Prominent figures from various sectors participated in the discussion, including writer and thinker Farhad Mazhar; Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, executive chairman of Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC); economist and activist Anu Muhammad; senior Supreme Court lawyer Sara Hossain; and filmmaker Kamar Ahmad Saimon, among others.