The time has come for the current interim government to adopt an “exit policy” through a fair election, remarked Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, stating, “There will be problems if the interim government is not impartial. The longer it stays, the more vested interests emerge, making it reluctant to leave. This government must now consider whether its actions will be legitimised by the next elected government. The time for an exit policy has arrived.”
He made these comments during a research presentation and discussion event titled “Democratic Transition, Tenure of Interim Government, and Proportional Representation: Bangladesh and Global Perspectives” held at Hotel Lakeshore in Gulshan on Wednesday.
The research, presented by Chairman of Democracy Dias Bangladesh Dr Abdullah-Al-Mamun, revealed alarming trends: 69 garment factories have closed between August 2024 and March 2025, with projections indicating 117 more may shut by April 2026. Poverty rates have risen from 20.5% in 2024 to 22.9% in 2025, and are expected to reach 25.6% by 2026, while unemployment has surged by 400,000 in just one year.
Warning politicians, Debapriya Bhattacharya added, “When constitutional power transfer processes are obstructed, caretaker or interim governments emerge – a consequence of politicians’ failures. Yet, politicians themselves suffer the most from such situations.”
The study highlighted that among 26 interim governments globally over 50 years, those that held swift elections (averaging 10 months 21 days) achieved stability, while prolonged transitions triggered social unrest and humanitarian disasters.
BNP Standing Committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan emphasised, “Only an elected government has the mandate for sweeping reforms,” noting that critical sectors like energy have deteriorated, with gas production dropping by one-third (95 million cubic feet) and FDI declining by $30.3 million.
Prothom Alo Joint Editor Sohrab Hossain criticised the government’s inaction, pointing to escalating violence including 2,135 murders between August 2024 and February 2025 – a figure projected to triple by April 2026 if current trends continue.
Senior journalist Masud Kamal delivered a scathing assessment: “A government that couldn’t reform itself in 11 months has no moral authority to reform the nation,” highlighting that 17 interim government members hold foreign citizenship, questioning their commitment to Bangladesh’s interests.
The event concluded with warnings from multiple speakers about the government’s failure to address economic collapse, healthcare breakdown, and rising extremism, with Dr Abdullah-Al-Mamun noting, “Prolonged interim regimes become crises themselves. Bangladesh’s fragility proves this rule.”
Other speakers included Prof Mahbub Ullah, Prof. Abu Ahmed, and representatives from business and civil society who unanimously called for immediate elections to prevent further deterioration.