Interim govt achieves almost all its targets: Shafiqul Alam

Refuting some people's claims that this interim government is "the weakest administration in Bangladesh's history", Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam today (18 November) said that in reality, the government has achieved almost all of its targets in just 15 months.

"I say with confidence that this has been one of the most consequential governments of Bangladesh in many decades. It has achieved almost everything it set out to do," he wrote in a status on his verified Facebook account.

 Binning the accusation of government inefficiency to deal with the law and order situation properly over the past 15 months, Shafiqul Alam said peace and stability have been restored.

 "Post-revolution revenge attacks were brought to a halt," he added.

Slamming the criticism that "the United States would not pursue reciprocal tariff arrangements with it (interim government) due to its weakness", the press secretary said, "The US tariff deal was secured without hiring a single lobbying firm".

He highlighted the government's tremendous work on enacting different laws, saying, "A record number of laws (ordinance) were enacted in just 15 months, including sweeping new labour reforms".

About the July declaration and charter, Shafiqul Alam said, "The July Declaration established a historic new platform, and the July Charter created a political settlement that may reshape national politics for generations".

Highlighting other achievements of the government, he said the Supreme Court asserted control over the lower judiciary, making it far more difficult for future governments to weaponise bail decisions or pursue politically motivated cases.

"One of the world's leading port operators signed the Laldia Terminal agreement, laying the foundation for a manufacturing transformation. It is the single largest European investment," the press secretary added.

Besides, a new foreign policy framework has positioned Bangladesh at the centre of the Indo-Pacific, he said.

Noting that the economy has been stabilised and returned to a growth trajectory, Shafiqul Alam said banking-sector plunder was curbed, the Taka stabilised, and inflation contained - food inflation falling from 14 per cent to seven.

According to court proceedings, he said, accountability began to emerge for past abuses, and a long-awaited sense of justice has begun to take shape. 

"Sheikh Hasina has been shown her place!!" the press secretary added.

"Forced disappearances ceased, the BAL (Bangladesh Awami League) extremist political culture that once dominated our national life has been neutralised, and a cultural revival has followed - bolstered by widely viewed documentaries detailing earlier abuses. It is a Farooki-effect!!" he said.

The RAB now operates under the law rather than informal doctrines, and intelligence agencies have retreated from harassing dissidents, Shafiqul Alam said, adding, freedom of the press and freedom of speech have been restored. 

Not a single staged "crossfire" incident has been reported in the last 16 months," he said.

Noting that the government has many more successes, Shafiqul Alam said, "As an avid reader of our history, I believe no government in Bangladesh has achieved as much in such a short period as the IG (interim government) has over these fifteen and a half months".