It has been three months since the fall of Sheikh Hasina. Where is Bangladesh today?
Bangladesh’s interim government at three months: Progress and challenges
The resignation of Sheikh Hasina, then Prime Minister of Bangladesh, following a weeks-long, bloody student-led uprising, marked the end of 15 years of Awami League (AL) rule in Bangladesh, a period dominated by the influence of the Sheikh family.
Hasina’s tenure was criticized internationally for electoral manipulation, suppression of dissent and rampant corruption. Some reports suggest that the amount of money laundered under her administration is almost double the country’s national debt. Prices for essential goods skyrocketed under Hasina, straining the working class.
Ayman Alam, a Bangladeshi undergraduate student in the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, witnessed the July uprising firsthand and recalls the horrific sounds of continuous gunshots and sirens of police vehicles amid the curfew.
Hasina’s deposition in favor of a new interim government inspired new hope across the country. Now, nearly three months into its tenure, the interim government faces complex challenges.
Addressing Casualties
The violence in the July uprising was unprecedented in Bangladeshi history, resulting in almost 1,500 deaths and tens of thousands injured. The interim government pledged to prioritize treatment and compensation for the victims, however, it has struggled to fulfill this promise.
Many wounded protesters could not afford to continue treatment. A month passed before the interim government formed a committee to identify affected individuals, and by the two-month mark, it announced compensation of 3 million BDT (around $2,500) per bereaved family. Reports indicate that treatment access improved only gradually.
Pursuing Justice for Atrocities
Many Bangladeshis view the brutal suppression of the July uprising as akin to genocide, with Awami League leaders allegedly ordering violence that resulted in mass casualties. However, prosecuting those responsible has proven challenging.
The law enforcement apparatus played the central role in July's brutal repression and many police officers fled or went into hiding after Hasina's downfall, fearing public reprisal. As a result, the interim government lacked sufficient police personnel to hold all perpetrators accountable.
Still, they made headway in apprehending some AL leaders, like Hasina’s top financier, Salman F Rahman. The public strongly supported this move, but the government’s inability to prevent the flight of many accused top officials underscores the challenges in delivering comprehensive accountability.
Restoring Law and Order
The partial dissolution of Bangladeshi law enforcement plunged the country into immediate chaos. Angry mobs attacked Awami League officials and their property and Hindus reported a steep increase in violence during the transition. Although Indian and pro-AL media alleged that the new administration targeted minorities, many incidents were traced back to AL affiliates attempting to incite unrest.
To restore order, the interim government granted the military temporary policing powers, but challenges persist. Daylight robberies in Dhaka, the capital city, continue and traffic management remains poor as the police have been slow to return.
The government faces criticism for its inability to stabilize the capital, though some argue this is partly due to an inadequate police force and their reluctance to act without the bribes that were commonplace under Hasina.
Tackling Economic Strain
Years of corruption left Bangladesh in economic peril, with dwindling foreign reserves and a banking sector on the brink of collapse. This economic instability drove consumer prices up dramatically, threatening to erode public confidence in the interim government.
Timely interventions by the central bank, including measures to contain inflation and task forces to examine the health of financial institutions, have yielded promising results. A forthcoming white paper on the economy is expected to provide a transparent view of the financial recovery.
Though international support, boosted by interim leader Muhammad Yunus’ successful UN visit, has encouraged optimism, inflation remains a pressing issue. The government struggles to dismantle syndicates controlling market prices, meaning consumer costs are prohibitively high, affecting daily life for millions.
Managing Protests and Public Demands
The flight of Hasina has opened the door to burgeoning political movements. In this new political environment, various groups have seized the opportunity to voice grievances, occupying streets in Dhaka with demonstrations for causes ranging from pay increases to infrastructure improvement.
The protests of the Ready Made Garments (RMG) sector in regular intervals pose a serious concern as it is regarded as the backbone of Bangladesh’s economy. Student leaders have claimed that Awami League remnants are fueling these protests to destabilize the government. While the validity of such claims is debated, handling these protests has become a major challenge for the interim administration.
Almost three months after Hasina's exit, Ayman reflects on the interim government’s progress with cautious optimism. He acknowledges the monumental challenges the government faces, especially given the country's severe economic strain and shutdown during the upheaval.
Ayman appreciates the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability, evident in their openness to the press and public about policy decisions.
"I expected a lot of transparency in their actions, and I think they have met this expectation well,” he said. “All the cabinet members and reform groups have been open with the press about the issues they are facing and their plans to address them."
However, he cautions against expecting rapid progress, pointing out that the interim leaders, being non-politicians, bear an extraordinary burden. He believes the government needs at least a year to effectively address issues like law and order, economic recovery and establishing a field for free election.
Despite the masses’ initial optimism, broader public trust in Yunus’ cabinet has waned among those who question the interim officials’ experience and dedication to revolutionary goals. This skepticism is rooted in the AL’s strategic placement of its supporters across governmental and institutional ranks over the last 15 years.
From civil service to the judiciary, Hasina’s regime entrenched its influence across nearly every level of governance, leaving the Yunus government with a bureaucracy resistant to reform and staffed with appointees more loyal to the former administration than the new order.
To counteract this, the interim government has launched reforms aimed at uprooting institutional corruption and expanding public services. Nonetheless, as many officials remain uncooperative, restoring full functionality to Bangladesh’s state apparatus will likely take time and sustained efforts.
At the three-month mark, the interim government faces daunting tasks, from addressing past injustices to stabilizing the economy and managing a fractured bureaucracy. Public trust in the interim government remains high, but the challenges ahead will require continued reform.
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