Eliminate ambiguity around reforms for public

As time passes, the public's doubts about the reforms continue to grow more obscure. Many people still have no clear idea about what reforms will take place and when. While reports from four reform commissions have been submitted to the Chief Adviser, they lack a clear outline, and some of the recommendations have already sparked criticism. Although there are some positive aspects in the reform commission reports, certain issues are seen as problematic by the country's civil society. Out of 11 reform commissions, the reports of seven more are still pending, and it is uncertain when these will be submitted to the Chief Adviser.

More important than the reports of the commissions is what actions the government will take and how much it will be able to implement. There have been many commissions in the past, and many of their reports were never implemented by the government. The current interim government's ability to implement reforms will also be crucial. Some issues may be left for the next political government to handle. Whether or not an elected government will implement the reforms remains to be seen after elections. It is only an elected government that can create, amend, or change the constitution. Therefore, once an elected government is in power, the recommendations may or may not be implemented. Overall, the situation is turning into a complex and uncertain matter.

The delay in reforms has raised concerns not only among political parties but also in the public's mind. In fact, a sense of uncertainty and fear has been prevailing. The country is facing a halt in investment, the normal functioning of the economy is sluggish, and law and order is fragile. There is a growing dependence of mob justice. These issues will not be resolved until an elected government comes to power. Last Sunday, in a statement, BNP's Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman hinted at this, saying, "The longer the discussion on reforms lasts, the deeper the crisis will become."

Initially, there was partial consensus between the political parties and the interim government regarding reforms, but over time, the gap has widened. The public now finds itself dependent on the political parties because of the country's uncertain situation. A major question for the public is: Will the reforms ultimately lead to a crisis? Much like a cow that has been burned by fire being fearful of seeing a storm cloud, the people of Bangladesh seem to feel similarly. "We are in a bad situation; we want things might not get worse," is the constant fear. On the other hand, it is also true that if no significant reforms take place, we will be forced to return to the old system. In that case, the massive popular uprising would go in vain.

The interim government must keep in mind that if the ongoing crisis in the country escalates, the responsibility will fall on their shoulders. Additionally, if the subsequent government fails for any reason, much of the blame will likely be placed on the current government as well. The responsibilities of the interim government are enormous, and the pressure on them is immense. Still, we believe that to alleviate the public's concerns about reforms, they must become more proactive.