After the anti-autocracy mass uprising in 1990, Bangladesh saw its first ever caretaker government under Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed. Within 90 days, his administration conducted a free, fair, and peaceful election, earning international acclaim. Later, similar elections were conducted under Justice Habibur Rahman in 1996 and Justice Latifur Rahman in 2001 — all within 90 days.
This proves that 90 days is sufficient to organise credible national elections under any circumstances. Some may cite the 2007 military-backed regime of Fakhruddin Ahmed. But that was not a caretaker government — it was a conspiratorial administration, born out of elite-engineered agendas and foreign interests, particularly Indian influence. Its aim was not to restore democracy but to depoliticise and dismantle the political and economic institutions of the country.
Fast forward to today — nearly 10 months have passed since the formation of the interim government led by Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, a globally respected statesman and crisis manager. People placed trust in him to oversee a swift transition of power back to the people. However, it now appears that the interim government may be losing direction. A small but influential faction within the administration seems to be misleading the leadership, pushing a new depoliticisation agenda, and attempting to use Dr Yunus’s reputation to resurrect the failed blueprint of 1/11.
Despite court orders declaring Shahadat Hossain as mayor of Chattogram and Ishraque Hossain as mayor of Dhaka South, oath-taking ceremonies remain stalled. Similarly, student movements, like those demanding a separate university for seven Dhaka-based colleges, remain unaddressed despite earlier promises. This indecision is breeding unrest and public frustration.
Meanwhile, the murder of Dhaka University student Samya has paralysed the campus. Calls for justice go unheard while the government drags its feet. The financial sector also faces uncertainty. Despite Dr Yunus’s meeting with market stakeholders, the stock market has hit rock bottom, and investors are panicking.
Over the past nine months, more than 12,000 cases have been filed, involving over 100,000 individuals. Even the government has admitted that many are baseless. Yet arbitrary arrests continue. While some cases are expedited, others drag on indefinitely — a culture of selective justice prevails.
The interim government seems unable to deliver. Public offices remain paralysed, campuses are dead zones, roads are blocked, and no tangible progress is visible. The once-celebrated administration now faces questions about transparency and integrity — particularly on sensitive issues like foreign corridor access and port leasing.
We are seeing signs of internal contradiction — different voices from within the government, particularly from the Consensus Commission, are issuing conflicting messages about the roadmap to elections. Meanwhile, public confidence is eroding, and conspiracy theories are gaining ground.
This cannot continue.
It is time for Dr Yunus to uphold the promise he was entrusted with — to quickly transfer power through a free and fair election. The Consensus Commission already has political agreement on key reforms — justice for the July Massacre, the banning of the Awami League, and constitutional and electoral reform. So why the delay in announcing elections?
This interim government was meant to be short-term. If it overstays, it will become controversial. If a world-renowned figure like Dr Yunus fails to deliver, it risks tarnishing the little trust this nation still holds in any moral leadership.
Let us not forget — Justice Shahabuddin, Justice Habibur Rahman, and Justice Latifur Rahman all held elections within 90 days. Why should Dr Yunus be an exception?
The people want their power back. The only way forward is to announce elections — now.
The writer is a playwright and columnist.
Email: [email protected]
