Country heading in right direction

Bangladesh is moving in the right direction despite the challenges created by the disruptive rule of the Awami League-led regime, which was ousted last year in a popular uprising, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus told The Economist.

The interim government, which took charge after the fall of the regime, is trying to "fix everything that has been destroyed" during the 16-year-long autocratic rule of Sheikh Hasina, said the report published Thursday.

According to the report, Yunus likened the Awami League rule to a continuous "earthquake".

"We're moving in the right direction, and the people are with us. We are hopeful," he was quoted in the report, which tried to paint a picture of the current situation in Bangladesh.

Noting that optimism is necessary, the report, however, highlighted the "tricky' situation the interim government is facing in implementing the reforms that stakeholders of the uprising agreed upon.

Since Sheikh Hasina's ousting, allegations of widespread corruption and abuse have surfaced, including claims that $16 billion was siphoned annually and serious charges like murder and genocide, all of which the ex-PM denies.

While political parties are united in demanding democratic reforms to prevent such abuses from recurring, the report said bringing out "big changes" and the political consensus needed for those have proved challenging for the Yunus-led government.

The report said reform efforts began soon after Sheikh Hasina fled to India. In September, Yunus formed several commissions, staffed by civil society and academic experts, to propose changes in areas like elections, the judiciary, and the constitution.

To coordinate the reforms, the government also set up a national consensus commission, which compiled 166 recommendations so far, with input from at least 35 political parties, said the report.

The goal is to produce a "July Charter" that would enable elections and mark the start of a "new Bangladesh", Yunus was quoted in the report.

But consensus is hard to build, the report said, noting differences among the stakeholders about the scope and priority of these commissions.

"The biggest controversy has been sparked by a commission that was formed belatedly on women's reform. Its recommendations included changes to Islamic inheritance law that give women greater rights and have sparked mass protests by Islamist parties," the report said.

However, progress has been made, claimed some in the government.

Quoting Ali Riaz, vice-chair of the consensus commission, the report said an independent process for appointing judges to the High Court has been set in motion.

Ali Riaz said the second round of dialogue with political parties will begin after May 15th, and a final charter is expected by August.

If that happens, elections could be held as early as December, said the report.  Yunus has pledged to hold polls no later than June 2026 and says he won't take part in it.

Yet, the delay is taking a toll, The Economist said. The interim regime has steadied prices and the banks, but growth remains weak, it added.

"And the political situation is fragile. According to one survey, nearly 60 percent of those polled believe that law and order have not improved since the regime change. Protests on the street have become routine," the report read.

Heeding demands from various stakeholders of the uprising, the election commission has suspended Awami League's registration on May 12, banning it from contesting any elections.