Wednesday, 16 July, 2025
Bangladesh stands at a pivotal juncture. While the interim government wrestles with forging national consensus on vital reforms promised in the spirit of the July Revolution, the country’s streets tell a different story—one of fear, disorder, and creeping disillusionment. The Finance Adviser is under immense pressure to stabilise the fragile balance of payments. The Bangladesh Bank governor reportedly works sleepless nights in an effort to tame inflation and restore financial discipline. Meanwhile, chaos looms outside the corridors of power, where anxiety grows by the day.
Nowhere was this collapse of public confidence more starkly visible than in the horrifying murder of a businessman outside Mitford Hospital in Dhaka. Slain in broad daylight in front of hundreds—including on-duty Ansar members—the victim’s death allegedly stemmed from a business feud over extortion and rent-seeking. Yet within hours, political actors were out on the streets, hijacking the tragedy for partisan ends. Some activists, backed by sympathetic media outlets, rushed to accuse BNP-linked Jubo Dal members, framing the incident as a politically motivated killing. The narrative took hold before facts could catch up.
Jamaat-e-Islami, the National Citizen Party (NCP), and other Islamist and nationalist groups staged demonstrations in Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, and Barishal. They demanded crackdowns on criminal networks operating under political protection, particularly in hospital zones and local markets where extortion is reportedly rife. Ironically, many of these protesting forces had stood shoulder to shoulder during the July Movement, which sought justice, accountability, and a new political direction. Yet today, some of the same voices have turned their attacks toward BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman—an exile, a survivor of the previous regime’s oppression, and, to many, one of the architects of the July Revolution itself.
It is important to note that two BNP activists were also killed in separate incidents outside Dhaka on the same day as the Mitford murder. Yet, their deaths received little attention. The Mitford killing, amplified through viral social media footage, became the central talking point—fuelled by political opportunism, if not calculated propaganda.
The police later clarified that the Mitford incident was not political but rather a business dispute among associates. However, by then, the narrative was fixed. In a volatile climate, truth is often the first casualty.
The timing of this upheaval is especially troubling. As the interim government under Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus pushes toward national elections and attempts to unite the nation behind long-overdue structural reforms, this sudden unrest threatens to undo fragile gains. The potential return of Tarique Rahman has become a pressing question for millions. For 15 years, he has remained in exile, directing his party and guiding democratic resistance from afar. During the July Revolution, his leadership was instrumental in mobilising a movement rooted in economic justice, democratic restoration, and national unity.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, responding to the allegations, decried a “well-orchestrated plot” to discredit the party and erase its leadership. “There is a deliberate conspiracy underway to destroy Bangladesh’s nationalist forces,” he said. According to Fakhrul, this is not merely about tarnishing reputations—it is about systematically eliminating the political alternatives to the status quo. BNP’s youth wing, Jubo Dal, announced nationwide protests to condemn what they describe as a rapid breakdown of law and order. Similar concerns have been raised by other political groups who see in this chaos not coincidence, but coordination.
The potential return of Tarique Rahman has become a pressing question for millions. For 15 years, he has remained in exile, directing his party and guiding democratic resistance from afar. During the July Revolution, his leadership was instrumental in mobilising a movement rooted in economic justice, democratic restoration, and national unity.
In response to growing pressure, the government launched a nationwide combing operation to apprehend known criminals. The decision followed an emergency meeting chaired by Dr Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna, where officials admitted that the country’s law and order situation was deteriorating rapidly. Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury vowed that no criminal would be spared, regardless of political identity. He pledged fair trials and swift justice, especially in the Mitford case, which has now been transferred to the Speedy Trial Tribunal.
But government promises now ring hollow against the backdrop of hard statistics. According to police data, January 2025 recorded 294 murders, 171 robberies, 105 abductions, 262 burglaries, and 797 thefts—the worst monthly figures in six years. Murders rose 27% compared to January 2024, while abductions more than doubled. These numbers directly contradict repeated official claims that the situation remains “under control.”
Disorder is not limited to crime figures. Discontent has boiled over across sectors. Students, garment workers, and professional groups have staged disruptive protests in major cities. Only days ago, CNG autorickshaw drivers brought Banani to a standstill for six hours, demanding rights to operate freely in the capital. Roads were gridlocked, commuters stranded, and the state had to deploy both police and Army personnel to restore order. Such scenes—once unimaginable—are now all too common.
All of this calls into question whether we are straying from the ideals that defined the July Revolution. That historic movement, led by young people and rooted in the struggle against injustice, quickly evolved beyond the quota issue. It became a cry for accountable leadership, transparent institutions, and an inclusive society. Its moral core was not just about government jobs—it was about reclaiming dignity.
Yet today, that vision seems to be slipping away. The interim government has called on the Election Commission to prepare for general elections by February 2026. But unless these elections are truly inclusive and transparent, they will do little to restore political legitimacy. A democracy where major political forces are excluded from the process cannot produce lasting stability. Only an inclusive and credible election can reset the political equation and bring long-term solutions to Bangladesh’s mounting crises.
The economic picture is equally bleak. Soaring inflation has reduced purchasing power and pushed countless families to the brink. A recent study found that food distribution through social programs has dropped by over 7% year-on-year, even as essential goods like rice, lentils, and oil continue to climb in price. Bangladesh now faces one of the highest inflation rates in South Asia.
The World Bank reports that the current account deficit shrank to $6.5 billion in FY2024 due to import cuts and improved remittance flows. But beneath the surface, fiscal stress persists. Government revenues are lagging, while rising prices erode the value of subsidies and safety nets. Approximately 3 million more people are projected to fall into extreme poverty this year, raising the rate to 9.3%—up from 7.7% last year.
Job creation is stagnant. The informal sector has taken a hit. The garment industry, long the backbone of the economy, now faces declining demand and tariff hikes from major export destinations. Inequality is rising. Confidence is eroding.
In this climate, one question echoes through the streets, social media, and drawing rooms of Bangladesh: Have we lost the spirit of the July Revolution? The ideals of justice, unity, and democracy that inspired a generation now seem distant in the face of political opportunism and economic despair.
Yet all hope is not lost. The continued mobilisation of students, workers, and private university youth shows that the fire of resistance still burns. The challenge now is for the interim government to honour the demands of that revolution—not through rhetoric, but through action. The path forward lies in rebuilding trust, guaranteeing political inclusion, and delivering free and fair elections. Without legitimacy, no reform will hold. Without unity, no progress will last.
History does not offer second chances lightly. If Bangladesh fails to act now, the consequences will be steep. The spirit of July was born in courage. It must not die in compromise.
( The writer is the Editor of THE BANGLADESH EXPRESS and Chairman of BJFCI. He may be reached at [email protected]).
Comments
Bangladesh stands at a pivotal juncture. While the interim government wrestles with forging national consensus on vital reforms promised in the spirit of the July Revolution, the country’s streets tell a different story—one of fear, disorder, and creeping disillusionment. The Finance Adviser is under immense pressure to stabilise the fragile balance of payments. The Bangladesh Bank governor reportedly works sleepless nights in an effort to tame inflation and restore financial discipline. Meanwhile, chaos looms outside the corridors of power, where anxiety grows by the day.
Nowhere was this collapse of public confidence more starkly visible than in the horrifying murder of a businessman outside Mitford Hospital in Dhaka. Slain in broad daylight in front of hundreds—including on-duty Ansar members—the victim’s death allegedly stemmed from a business feud over extortion and rent-seeking. Yet within hours, political actors were out on the streets, hijacking the tragedy for partisan ends. Some activists, backed by sympathetic media outlets, rushed to accuse BNP-linked Jubo Dal members, framing the incident as a politically motivated killing. The narrative took hold before facts could catch up.
Jamaat-e-Islami, the National Citizen Party (NCP), and other Islamist and nationalist groups staged demonstrations in Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, and Barishal. They demanded crackdowns on criminal networks operating under political protection, particularly in hospital zones and local markets where extortion is reportedly rife. Ironically, many of these protesting forces had stood shoulder to shoulder during the July Movement, which sought justice, accountability, and a new political direction. Yet today, some of the same voices have turned their attacks toward BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman—an exile, a survivor of the previous regime’s oppression, and, to many, one of the architects of the July Revolution itself.
It is important to note that two BNP activists were also killed in separate incidents outside Dhaka on the same day as the Mitford murder. Yet, their deaths received little attention. The Mitford killing, amplified through viral social media footage, became the central talking point—fuelled by political opportunism, if not calculated propaganda.
The police later clarified that the Mitford incident was not political but rather a business dispute among associates. However, by then, the narrative was fixed. In a volatile climate, truth is often the first casualty.
The timing of this upheaval is especially troubling. As the interim government under Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus pushes toward national elections and attempts to unite the nation behind long-overdue structural reforms, this sudden unrest threatens to undo fragile gains. The potential return of Tarique Rahman has become a pressing question for millions. For 15 years, he has remained in exile, directing his party and guiding democratic resistance from afar. During the July Revolution, his leadership was instrumental in mobilising a movement rooted in economic justice, democratic restoration, and national unity.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, responding to the allegations, decried a “well-orchestrated plot” to discredit the party and erase its leadership. “There is a deliberate conspiracy underway to destroy Bangladesh’s nationalist forces,” he said. According to Fakhrul, this is not merely about tarnishing reputations—it is about systematically eliminating the political alternatives to the status quo. BNP’s youth wing, Jubo Dal, announced nationwide protests to condemn what they describe as a rapid breakdown of law and order. Similar concerns have been raised by other political groups who see in this chaos not coincidence, but coordination.
The potential return of Tarique Rahman has become a pressing question for millions. For 15 years, he has remained in exile, directing his party and guiding democratic resistance from afar. During the July Revolution, his leadership was instrumental in mobilising a movement rooted in economic justice, democratic restoration, and national unity.
In response to growing pressure, the government launched a nationwide combing operation to apprehend known criminals. The decision followed an emergency meeting chaired by Dr Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna, where officials admitted that the country’s law and order situation was deteriorating rapidly. Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury vowed that no criminal would be spared, regardless of political identity. He pledged fair trials and swift justice, especially in the Mitford case, which has now been transferred to the Speedy Trial Tribunal.
But government promises now ring hollow against the backdrop of hard statistics. According to police data, January 2025 recorded 294 murders, 171 robberies, 105 abductions, 262 burglaries, and 797 thefts—the worst monthly figures in six years. Murders rose 27% compared to January 2024, while abductions more than doubled. These numbers directly contradict repeated official claims that the situation remains “under control.”
Disorder is not limited to crime figures. Discontent has boiled over across sectors. Students, garment workers, and professional groups have staged disruptive protests in major cities. Only days ago, CNG autorickshaw drivers brought Banani to a standstill for six hours, demanding rights to operate freely in the capital. Roads were gridlocked, commuters stranded, and the state had to deploy both police and Army personnel to restore order. Such scenes—once unimaginable—are now all too common.
All of this calls into question whether we are straying from the ideals that defined the July Revolution. That historic movement, led by young people and rooted in the struggle against injustice, quickly evolved beyond the quota issue. It became a cry for accountable leadership, transparent institutions, and an inclusive society. Its moral core was not just about government jobs—it was about reclaiming dignity.
Yet today, that vision seems to be slipping away. The interim government has called on the Election Commission to prepare for general elections by February 2026. But unless these elections are truly inclusive and transparent, they will do little to restore political legitimacy. A democracy where major political forces are excluded from the process cannot produce lasting stability. Only an inclusive and credible election can reset the political equation and bring long-term solutions to Bangladesh’s mounting crises.
The economic picture is equally bleak. Soaring inflation has reduced purchasing power and pushed countless families to the brink. A recent study found that food distribution through social programs has dropped by over 7% year-on-year, even as essential goods like rice, lentils, and oil continue to climb in price. Bangladesh now faces one of the highest inflation rates in South Asia.
The World Bank reports that the current account deficit shrank to $6.5 billion in FY2024 due to import cuts and improved remittance flows. But beneath the surface, fiscal stress persists. Government revenues are lagging, while rising prices erode the value of subsidies and safety nets. Approximately 3 million more people are projected to fall into extreme poverty this year, raising the rate to 9.3%—up from 7.7% last year.
Job creation is stagnant. The informal sector has taken a hit. The garment industry, long the backbone of the economy, now faces declining demand and tariff hikes from major export destinations. Inequality is rising. Confidence is eroding.
In this climate, one question echoes through the streets, social media, and drawing rooms of Bangladesh: Have we lost the spirit of the July Revolution? The ideals of justice, unity, and democracy that inspired a generation now seem distant in the face of political opportunism and economic despair.
Yet all hope is not lost. The continued mobilisation of students, workers, and private university youth shows that the fire of resistance still burns. The challenge now is for the interim government to honour the demands of that revolution—not through rhetoric, but through action. The path forward lies in rebuilding trust, guaranteeing political inclusion, and delivering free and fair elections. Without legitimacy, no reform will hold. Without unity, no progress will last.
History does not offer second chances lightly. If Bangladesh fails to act now, the consequences will be steep. The spirit of July was born in courage. It must not die in compromise.
( The writer is the Editor of THE BANGLADESH EXPRESS and Chairman of BJFCI. He may be reached at [email protected]).
Comments
