One of my neighbor-nephews, in his early thirties, has always been well-regarded in the community. Known as a "good boy" since childhood, he excelled academically, consistently ranking first or second from primary school through university. A few years ago, he secured a respectable position in a well-known company. Recently, he married his dream girl and brought her home, marking the start of a new chapter in his life.
A few days ago, I ran into that nephew on the street, and we exchanged pleasantries. Out of nowhere, he asked, "Uncle, will there be an election this time? Will I be able to vote?" He went on to share his frustration. "Since I became eligible to vote, there have been three or four elections, but I haven’t been able to cast my vote even once. The first time, the local hooligans told me not to bother going to the polling center—they’d handle it for me. The next time, I arrived at the center only to find that someone else had already cast my vote. And then..."
I stopped him and reassured, saying, "Inshallah, nothing like that will happen this time. You and the bride will be able to vote peacefully alongside your parents."
That day, I shared an encouraging message with my nephew, but when I returned home and sank into my peacock-themed easy chair, a storm of worries began to brew in my mind. Leaving behind her ‘father’s landholdings’, an accident-prone ‘noblewoman’ seemed to be experimenting with various tricks on the remote control.
Her mentor isn’t just asking her 'Tu kamchu' ('How are you?' in Gujarati) day and night; he’s also making his aides serve her interests. They are amplifying fictional narratives of minority communities in Bangladesh being ‘oppressed’ by the majority, turning minor incidents into exaggerated tales with the help of certain biased media outlets. Interestingly, these fabricated alleged ‘large-scale massacres’ of minorities find no mention in any credible national or international media, except in publications aligned with their agenda.
Even Bangladesh's leading newspapers, renowned for their impartiality, have remained conspicuously silent on such a ‘significant’ incident (mostly fake). This underhanded attempt to tarnish the nation's reputation—particularly that of the apolitical, neutral, interim government—is yet another ploy by the ‘brother’ to restore the sister to her lost extinct realm.
Let’s not forget another critical point: the bureaucrats who thrived under the Gopali government’s rule for over a decade and a half, indulging in luxury and corruption, along with political opportunists who grew obscenely wealthy at the people's expense, remain largely untouched. Most of them are still outside the state’s “boarding houses” in Keraniganj or Gazipur. Many operate from the shadows, scheming to reclaim their lost influence. With enough money, they can easily switch sides overnight, adopting labels like “anti-discrimination” or “pro-Yunus” to suit their interests. From influential positions, they are capable of orchestrating significant acts of sabotage.
Yes, in this country, anything seems possible. This is not a request or complaint but a warning: danger signal number 10—beware! It may be unpleasant to admit, but in Bangladesh, almost anything and anyone can be bought. During my time working with the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC), overseeing jute product marketing, I learned a troubling truth from a close colleague. He spoke of Marwari traders who adhered to the principle of "put money, use oil" (Cash for questions)—essentially treating bribery as a customary business practice.
If someone refuses a bribe, the reaction might be: What? They won’t take the money? How much will it take? The assumption persists—no matter how principled they seem, raising the offer enough will eventually tempt them to take the (fishing) bait.
I know you might have been yawning after listening to this ‘classical music’ for so long, but let’s get to the point. The real story is about my cousin’s desire to vote, as mentioned earlier. This time, his hope will surely be fulfilled. We've seen the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh, Professor Muhammad Yunus, since the 60s and 70s, and those of us, along with those who awarded him the Nobel Prize, have never witnessed any misconduct from him.
There is no doubt that the patriotic students of Bloody July 36 chose the most deserving individual from a population of 170 million. If there is one person from Bangladesh known by name both at home and abroad, it is Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. In 2004, when I served as Bangladesh's High Commissioner, I had the privilege of shaking hands with Prince Charles (now King Charles). He immediately asked, "Oh, you're from Bangladesh? How is my friend, Professor Yunus?" I met him on three occasions, and each time our conversation inevitably turned to Professor Yunus.
We are fortunate to have such a leader at the helm during this transitional period. Over the past three months, he has repeatedly assured the nation that, alongside his team, he will quickly get Bangladesh—currently off track—back on course. The people share this belief.
He assured that he will prevent the train from derailing again—a good intention. However, we often fail to give enough time for positive changes to take root. Meanwhile, those eager to highlight the failures of the current interim government will continue to stoke public frustration with baseless claims. For this reason, we believe it’s not wise to delay any reforms beyond the most urgent issues crucial for a fair and inclusive parliamentary election. Reform should be seen as an ongoing process, with future elected governments taking necessary steps in the public’s interest.
In his recent address to the nation on November 17, the Chief Adviser discussed various aspects of the government's 100-day tenure. While he did not specify a date for the National Assembly elections, he emphasized the ongoing reform programs on critical issues, indirectly touching upon the elections. This has led many to speculate that the government may not be leaving office soon. That evening, during a TV interview, a veteran journalist friend humorously quoted poet Rabindranath Tagore: "You talk a lot without saying anything, I stopped trying to understand it." I responded, "Be patient, just for a little while."
I still believe that we should allow the current interim government a reasonable amount of time to organize free, fair, and inclusive elections that will be accepted both domestically and internationally. However, a reasonable timeline does not imply an indefinite delay. The government must heed the growing calls for a clear roadmap or future course of action, providing the nation with a definitive timeline for the elections. Failing to do so could turn today’s simmering discontent into a serious headache in the near future.
Finally, we have a golden opportunity to reap the rewards of a monster-free Bangladesh, born from the immense sacrifices of our students—a national opportunity we cannot afford to lose. What we need now is national unity. Achieving this requires no vast resources—just provide the people with two full meals and a peaceful rest. In return, they will support the interim government wholeheartedly and offer their prayers for its success.
However, don't be disheartened—on these two critical issues, inflation and law and order, the examiners (mass people) can't award passing marks, despite their best intentions. Authorities, urgent action is needed on these fronts, or else—.
Author: A former secretary and poet.
mkarim06@yahoo.com
Translated by Jisan Al Jubair
