Why the long wait for elections has been an illuminating interlude

The delayed election, rather than being merely a period of political stagnation, has paradoxically served as a crucial and illuminating interlude for Bangladesh. Had the interim government, formed on August 8, 2024, acted as a caretaker, conducted elections within 90 days, and then departed, people would have imagined—perhaps unrealistically—that the interim administration could have solved many of the country's problems. Instead, this extended timeframe has allowed for a deeper, more sobering examination of the nation's political landscape, resulting in unexpected clarity. The delay provided the necessary time for several pervasive national myths to be confronted by the hard light of reality.

For instance, many believed that Nobel Peace Prize–winning economist Dr Muhammad Yunus's leadership would usher in an era of unparalleled peace, explosive economic growth, and abundant foreign investment. This past year and a half allowed that idealised image to be scrutinised leading to a more nuanced and realistic public assessment, dispelling the notion of a singular, messianic alternative. Similarly, the public's once-fervent enthusiasm for certain student leaders, seen as pure-hearted and symbolising hope, has been tempered. Their direct and indirect involvement in power dynamics during this period revealed that they, too, are not immune to the corrupting influence of authority or the temptation of authoritarian behaviour, often displaying a surprising lack of deep political wisdom. The delay granted the nation time for this necessary disillusionment.

Furthermore, the extended period acted as a relentless unmasking agent for Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. The actions of some of its leaders—targeting cultural institutions and independent media outlets—over these months clarified its fundamental opposition to progressive ideals, indigenous culture, and women's freedom for the educated and conscious class, cutting through previous ambiguities. For the BNP, this was not a swift return to power but a gruelling "time test," oscillating between proximity to and distance from authority. This protracted process may have instilled a necessary moment of reckoning, a forced contemplation of public accountability that might shape any future governance. It also gave the public an invaluable, prolonged study of the incumbent administration and the state machinery.

Within the government itself, the delay humbled certain narratives. Advisers who hailed from prominent NGO backgrounds, once prolific critics of state incapacity and lack of transparency from the outside, found their grand, idealistic rhetoric colliding with the immense complexities of actually running a country. Their once-loud proclamations were inevitably moderated by the weight of executive responsibility. Moreover, the widespread hope that, if enough time were given to this administration, it would implement transformative structural reforms to make Bangladesh a model of accountability remains far-fetched. The public can now move beyond the illusion that this administration held a unique key to systemic perfection. Finally, the very functionality of the state over this contentious period challenged the persistent narrative of great dependence on a single foreign ally, proving the nation's operational resilience.

While the political waiting has been arduous, it has functioned as an unscheduled but intense national tutorial. It has stripped away layers of political fantasy, forcing a clearer, if more demanding, view of the actors and dynamics at play. There is undoubtedly more to observe as the story unfolds. But this interval has provided a sobering education, ensuring that the next chapter begins not with wistful illusions, but with eyes more open to the intricate and often unforgiving realities of power and governance.

Md Firoj Alam is a development consultant.

Views expressed in this article are the author's own. 

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