Nazrul Islam
The New Year begins with numerous expectations from a new government, the formation of which is probable in a week, after the Awami League-led alliance’s overwhelming victory in Monday’s elections.
The first and foremost demand of the people is the lowering of the prices of essential commodities as almost all classes of people have suffered miserably because of the sky-high prices, for which the indifference of the last elected and outgoing governments are mainly blamed in spite of the volatility of the international market.
Also, due to the suppression of civil and political rights for two years under a military-controlled government, the people in general want full restoration of their democratic rights.
They hope since they voted for change, the change must be tangible as the country is now in a positive mood after the peaceful elections, contested by and almost all the political parties with the eager participation of nearly 87 per cent of the number of voters.
The people, who seem to see a ray of hope at long last, expect the public offices to remain free of rampant corruption and a good law and order situation to prevail. They also hope for a business atmosphere that will be free of undue interference, violence-free politics and educational institutions, uninterrupted power supply, adequate availability of agriculture inputs, smooth communications, beginning of the trial of the war criminals and an end to the trend of fundamentalism that has created dread among the general people.
‘There is a positive mood in the country, and the government must ensure that it remains so,’ said economist Atiur Rahman.
He said the people are now ‘aware of almost every situation’ and the new government has to act as per the people’s expectations.
Failure in addressing people’s expectations will bring disastrous consequences for the administration, for which the people have voted in overwhelming numbers.
Sohrab Hossain, a farm labourer in southern Patharghata who earns below Tk 150 daily, said that he expects the new government to keep the food prices within his reach.
‘The money I earn is not enough to buy daily provisions for my family of five,’ he complained.
When he was asked about his expectations from the elected government, Hafizur Rahman, a farmer of Narikelbari union of Kurigram district, said that the government must make available the essential agricultural inputs — seeds, fertiliser, diesel and electricity for irrigation — at subsidised rates for increasing agricultural production, which would help to keep the prices of the food items stable.
‘I want a better Bangladesh through economic growth. A Bangladesh where people will be able to buy food at affordable prices,’ said Kabirul Islam Babu, a school teacher in Pabna.
The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s president, Annisul Huq, said the imminent birth of an elected government has made people dream of improvements on the eve of the New Year, and the people cast their votes to translate the dream into reality. ‘I want the dream to come true,’ he said.
Mustafizur Rahman, a resident of Niketon, echoed the FBCCI’s president, saying, ‘It is enough if the government implements 60 per cent of the commitments in its five-year tenure.’
Religious fanaticism needs to be tackled head-on and wiped out, insisted many people. ‘I want to see the Baul sculpture at the airport roundabout reinstalled by the elected government,’ said Zaheeda Parvin, an employee of a private airlines company. The sculpture was dismantled to assuage religious bigots in October.
Courtesy: newagebd.com
