Interim govt has run out of steam for reform, justice: Debapriya
Chief adviser's words bear little relation to reality, he says
The interim government has run out of time and scope for reforms and trial process, Debapriya Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), said today (8 January).
"Its capacity and potential have reached their limits. What it can do now is organise a good election – whatever is possible," he said while speaking at the launching ceremony of a report.
The launching event of the report titled "From Commitment to Implementation: Political Inclusion and Democratic Accountability: Bangladesh's Election 2026", was organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.
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Criticising what he described as a gap between rhetoric and action, he said statements made by the chief adviser were not reflected on the ground.
Referring to the chief adviser's pledge of unity beyond religion or caste, Debapriya Bhattacharya used a rhetorical analogy, saying, "The umbrella has not been opened. It is raining, but there is no shelter."
Minority issue and government narrative
Debapriya strongly criticised the government's handling and explanation of data on attacks against minority communities, calling it a form of "intellectual distortion".
Referring to a government briefing on 19 January, where officials said 645 minorities were attacked in 2025 but only 71 incidents were communal, he questioned the logic behind separating such violence into other categories.
"When violence is committed against women, do we call it a land dispute?" he asked. "People are attacked because they are vulnerable. Similarly, these attacks occurred because minorities are a weak community."
He also criticised the lack of effective political representation for minorities, noting that despite having 19 MPs from minority communities in the last parliament, key issues such as land restitution under the Vested Property Act were never raised.
"There was no democracy within the party, and therefore no democracy in the country," he said.
Survey findings: fear and distrust
At the event, CGS presented findings from a survey conducted among 505 respondents, including ethnic minorities from hill and plain regions, religious minorities and other marginalised groups.
The survey found that more than 50% of respondents felt worried about their safety, while over 25% said they felt unsafe or extremely unsafe. It also revealed deep distrust toward state and political institutions, with many respondents believing political parties treat minority communities primarily as vote banks.
The event was also addressed by Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SHUJAN) Secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar and economist Dr Selim Jahan. CGS President Zillur Rahman moderated the session.
