Hope, crisis, and shadows of old habits complicate honeymoon period

Running a country like Bangladesh is like riding a wild bull -- chaotic and unpredictable. At times, the bull charges in a desired direction.

But more often than not, it veers off. One wrong move can throw the rider off. And to stay on, one must combine wisdom with wit. The bullride feels particularly relevant as the BNP government completes its first 100 days, which featured the shimmers of hope, jolts of crisis, and flashes of old habits.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman took the reins with a two-thirds majority, amid enormous expectations. The victory had come after years of suffocating authoritarian rule under the Awami League regime that systematically weakened democratic institutions, suppressed press freedom, and turned politics into a criminal enterprise to accumulate wealth. The intervening interim government was expected to champion reforms and restore rule of law, which it failed to a large extent which only led to even higher expectations from the elected BNP government. The new government appointed many first-timers and younger MPs to the cabinet in what must have been a bid to revamp its image.

Observers and commentators have highlighted several positive aspects, including Tarique’s comparatively modest lifestyle, his demeanor, not to mention his visits to the homes of opposition leaders after the polls. In parliament, the prime minister’s call for dialogue and efforts to encourage active opposition participation created hope for a more effective and democratic House. During its first 100 days, the BNP government began implementing election pledges -- family cards, farmer cards, health cards, tree plantation drives, canal re-excavation -- efforts to reconnect the state with the citizenry.

However, efforts to curb killings, rapes, and underworld violence often fell short. Law enforcers themselves came under attack several times.

The government also had to navigate crises not of its own making. Just 10 days after Tarique assumed office, the US and Israel attacked Iran, triggering a regional conflict that destabilised global markets and disrupted oil supplies. Fuel imports were delayed, reserves shrank, panic buying ensued. The frenzy eased only after the government secured additional supplies and raised fuel prices -- calming demand, but risking inflation.

Then came the measles outbreak, claiming children's lives. It has largely been blamed on the Yunus-led interim government's mishandling of a previously successful vaccination programme. The current government moved quickly to secure vaccines and launch an immunisation drive, but the crisis exposed weaknesses in health management, as authorities failed to provide consistent death figures.

But not all the criticism can be explained away with inheritance from the interim government. Some are of the government's own making. The appointments of vice-chancellors in at least 18 public universities on partisan considerations was heavily criticised. Relaunching the school feeding programme, revising the curriculum, and making sports compulsory from the fourth grade received positive reactions.

However, critics were less supportive of the decision to scrap the lottery-based school admission system. The sudden removal of Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur and replacing him with an accountant who owns a garment company raised questions about transparency and qualifications. Political influence crept into the Bangladesh Cricket Board. Ruling party-aligned administrators were appointed in city corporations instead of elected representatives, raising concerns about local government autonomy.

Arrests of people who played Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's March 7 speech, police abusing their power during raids at Suhrawardy Udyan, and crackdowns over social media content bore uncomfortable similarities with the previous regime. One of the main expectations was that this government would push forward institutional reforms. That agenda has visibly lost momentum. Several ordinances from the interim period -- covering judicial independence, the National Human Rights Council, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and protections against enforced disappearance -- were not ratified.

Shelving these measures weakens institutions. More importantly it betrays people's hopes for meaningful change. Weeks after promising stronger legal frameworks, the government introduced draft laws that could potentially weaken independent oversight. The ruling party also failed to convene a Constitution Reform Council as mandated under the July National Charter Implementation Order of 2025.

Members of the 13th parliament were expected to serve both as lawmakers and reform council members, tasked with addressing 48 constitutional amendment proposals within 180 working days. Debates linger over political influence within the police force and whether the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) will eventually be dissolved. Looks like it will be rebranded but not dissolved. The first 100 days -- often called the “honeymoon period”, when the government enjoys goodwill from the public, rivals, and the media -- have now passed.

Tougher challenges lie ahead: ensuring food security, education, and healthcare; restoring law and order; and safeguarding national sovereignty while balancing relations with neighbours and global powers. One looming concern is the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) signed with the United States during the final days of the interim government. The 32-page framework covers trade, labour, and economic policies, with several of its conditions believed to be unfavourable to Bangladesh. The administration needs to energise an often inert bureaucracy, strengthen law and order, stabilise an economy weakened by money laundering, crony capitalism, and kleptocracy, and restore the effectiveness of democratic institutions such as parliament and the Election Commission.

People no longer want rhetoric, they want results. They will measure this administration by whether prices remain steady, streets grow safer, institutions gain strength, and democratic promises are truly honoured.