Where is interim government headed!

Where is present-day Bangladesh headed, and on which path is the interim government taking the country? Such questions are deeply troubling everyone. Over the past 10 months, a series of decisions made by the government that harm the interests of the country have pushed us into fear and anxiety. It is hard to believe that the government's intentions are noble. Instead of moving away from a one-party regime, we have ended up with another undemocratic, unconstitutional government that curtails freedom of expression. Public trust in the government is already declining due to numerous activities beyond its jurisdiction.

The question remains: who or what is the power behind the arbitrary actions of such an unconstitutional government? This government was formed at the behest of so-called protesting students. These students, with the implicit backing of the Chief Adviser, have already formed a political party. The head of government, too, has made successive decisions based on the demands of a few protesters, pushing the nation towards conflict. A stark contradiction is evident between the chief adviser's words and actions—he himself regularly violates his own statements. Since assuming power, none of his promises have been fulfilled. Instead, he has consistently done the opposite.

Highly controversial decisions—such as granting corridor access to Arakan State, handing over the management of Chattogram Port to foreigners, and the extreme anti-national decision to transfer Saint Martin’s Island to the United States—have caused widespread public concern and anxiety. Environment Adviser Rezwana Hasan had long ago spoken about banning tourist access to Saint Martin’s Island to protect the coral reefs. It has now become clear to the public that coral protection was never the real intention. By now, the true objective is obvious to all. Political leaders, the military, and the general public—none were consulted before handing over the country’s land and assets to foreigners.

All political parties—except Jamaat, the NCP (King’s Party), and the insignificant AB Party—have taken strong stances and launched various protest programmes against this. Even the Army Chief has expressed his displeasure. Yet the government remains unwavering, constantly confusing the public with shifting statements. This has raised serious questions about the source of power of such an unconstitutional and unsupported government. No elected government has dared to show such audacity, but this government seems to be doing so without hesitation.

Since August 5, 2024, mob violence has continued unchecked across the country. So-called protesters are operating with complete impunity, without any regard for the presence of law enforcement or the military. Their brutality is evident in every sector. Recently, during house raids in Narail and Cumilla, the army recovered sniper rifles and weapons from the homes of former Shibir members and current NCP members, partially unveiling the mystery behind the killings during the protests. The government’s former Home Affairs Adviser Brigadier General Shakhawat Hossain publicly stated that the bullets found in autopsies of the protest victims were not from police-issued sniper rifles. He expressed doubts about who might have used them.

Following this statement, he lost his post as Home Affairs Adviser at the hands of the powerful and dominant partners in power. Our chief adviser has undertaken 11 foreign trips in the past 10 months at the expense of public tax money. None of these were bilateral visits; all were personal. He has squandered state funds for his personal business interests during these trips. This too has sparked many questions. But he seems indifferent to all of it.

We must remember that on August 5, the Army Chief declared that he would take full responsibility and asked for public trust. But in reality, we have witnessed brutal terrorism across the country. The looting of weapons from 400 police stations, arson attacks on stations, police killings, and mass destruction of industries linked to the previous government occurred nationwide. There have been unprecedented waves of attacks, legal cases, and mass arrests against political leaders and activists. Meanwhile, the army stood by as silent spectators. Despite making promises, the Army Chief has done nothing to stop these atrocities. Defenceless citizens have fallen victim to brutal mob violence. Even war memorials and sculptures of the greatest freedom fighters were not spared.

The arrogant behaviour of anti-liberation forces and the oppression of freedom fighters have left the nation stunned and heartbroken. Numerous incidents aiming to erase the legacy of the Liberation War prove that the country is now in the grip of its adversaries. Three forces are currently backing the government: the Islamist group Jamaat-e-Islami and allied fundamentalist factions, leaders from the so-called Anti-Discrimination Student Movement who were partners in its meticulously designed plan, and a few insignificant parties. The large public participation in the movement was merely used as labour. These participants were never included in the circle of leadership executing the plan. Hence, a sense of disillusionment has spread among the larger segment of the protesters. Many are now admitting their mistake publicly on social media.

Very recently, a string of unwelcome incidents occurred during the Chief Adviser’s London trip with his entourage. He went to accept an award and meet BNP leader Tarique Rahman. While this may have been a personal trip, it is known that, like his previous travels, this one too was conducted at the state's expense. Every foreign trip he has undertaken has revolved around his Grameen Bank business and personal political interests, causing financial damage to the state. This has triggered a storm of criticism among the public.

The so-called reformist King’s Party has threatened not to participate in any election without the declaration of the July Charter. The chief adviser echoes the same, constantly delaying the election process. Though the Army Chief and all mainstream political parties, including the BNP, have demanded that the election be held by December, the Prime Minister has announced it for April 2026, rejecting all these demands. Thus, the question arises—what is the true source of the interim government's power? And where exactly are they taking the country?

Mozharul Islam Babla: Executive Editor, Notun Diganta