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Shafiqul Alam is the press adviser to the Bangladesh interim government’s Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus. A former journalist who worked with multiple news agencies, Mr. Alam was well known as the Chief of Bureau of AFP in Dhaka for around two decades till the uprising in Bangladesh overthrew the Sheikh Hasina Government. He was appointed to his current position by Mr. Yunus soon after the interim administration was formed in the first week of August 2024. He spoke to The Hindu on the plans for the upcoming elections and the achievements of the interim administration. Excerpts:
Q: What are the achievements of the interim government in the past fifteen months of its existence?
The mandate of the interim government was about carrying out reforms in multiple sectors of the government and the state, ensuring justice and accountability for the July 2024 killings carried out by the Sheikh Hasina government, and holding elections for the smooth transition towards a democratically elected government. We have made tremendous improvements on all three fronts during the past fifteen months. The July Charter has been adopted, and discussions are underway about the possibility of holding a referendum on the Charter. This may happen prior to or even simultaneously with the election.
The Charter is the product of an entirely homegrown dialogue process. Earlier, when there were political disturbances in Bangladesh, foreigners came to the country to mediate among us, but this time we were able to hold detailed consultations with all sections of the political class and come out with the July Proclamation.
That apart, as promised at the beginning, reforms are underway in multiple sectors. We are focused on ensuring ease of doing business in the economy. Reforms in the judiciary are also ongoing. We want the judiciary to function independently so that its freedom is never reduced.
The biggest achievement is that we have turned around the economy. The poverty rate is on the decline, and we have forex reserves for five months, and the banking sector is far more stable. On the justice front too, we have made progress. The International Crimes Tribunal is doing good work, and the trial of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will take into account the complaints that she committed “mass murder”.
Q: Why do you want to hold a referendum on the July Proclamation?
The referendum is an attempt to see how we can implement the principles enshrined in the July Proclamation so that it becomes part of citizens’ lives and safeguards the gains that we made in the uprising.
Q: Under the interim government, it appears that older parties such as the BNP, the Jatiyo Party and others are under pressure, and new parties such as the NCP are being promoted.
I don’t think any party is being favoured or any party is under pressure. The main feeling on the street is that there is a hunger for change in Bangladesh and the political parties are reflecting that. Older parties are very much thriving as the previous regime that used to deny them political space has left. In the recent student elections, the NCP did not do well, but the BNP remains a formidable political party. Regardless, both the NCP and the BNP are preparing for the elections ahead. I don’t think the older parties are under pressure and everyone is trying to understand how best to cater to the hunger for change that is sweeping Bangladesh.
Q: There are concerns about whether the election would ultimately be held because of the fragile security situation in Bangladesh. Do you think security can be handled by the administration?
I would like to emphasise that crime has not increased under the interim government. Crime statistics are stable, and we publish them every month to show that the problem has not aggravated in the past fifteen months. Reports about heightened crime in Bangladesh is being spread by the Awami League and its supporters. Our election plans are proof that we are well equipped to deal with law-and-order issues.
The military is deployed during every election, and this time too, 90,000 to 1 lakh military personnel would be deployed for free, fair and peaceful elections.
As far as apprehensions about polls go, let me tell you that villages, ports and cities of Bangladesh have already gone into election mode. If you visit our markets and river ports that are part of our daily lives, pamphleteering and campaigning have already started. There is election fever in the country now. Political leaders are visiting their constituencies. Some parties have already nominated their representatives, and there is no uncertainty about the polls. Major works are done, and
this would be the best election in the history of Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina rigged three elections, and she even rigged the union or upazila elections in the country. This would be the first time that the elections would be free and fair.
Q: Some parties such as the JeI and the NCP are demanding a proportional representation system for the election. Would the next election be based on the PR system or be according to the first past the post system?
It is not for the interim government to decide whether elections in Bangladesh should be based on proportional representation. This is a matter for the political parties to decide. Let them arrive at a consensus on the matter through discussions.
Q: India continues to host Sheikh Hasina ever after fifteen months of her ouster and fleeing the country. Your government has repeatedly asked for her extradition. What’s the way out of this issue?
Sheikh Hasina is being tried by the ICT, an independent organisation, and I cannot say what the verdict of the ICT will be. We would raise the matter at her trial at the ICT. There is no doubt about the role that she played in the killings of July-August 2024, which is known to all, including the UN agencies, who have also submitted report about the killings. Even now she is orchestrating violence sitting in India. She has not apologised or expressed regret for her role in the killings.
Q: A major issue between India and Bangladesh is that despite settled borders, there are incidents of border killings of Bangladeshi citizens by Indian border guards often on suspicion of their involvement in crimes.
We definitely do not want such killings to continue. If someone has committed a crime, then they should be tried in court, and we would cooperate in such cases. How is it right to kill someone based on suspicions or allegations of crime without a trial? Bangladesh’s interim government has protested these killings.
Q: How has the uprising helped the image of Bangladesh internationally?
Bangladesh’s image was enhanced because of the uprising. People around the world have recognised the peaceful uprising in Bangladesh where common people rose in revolt against a dictator who used brute power to crush them but finally had to flee and the people won. Wherever we went in the past fifteen months, people wanted to know how we managed to bring this change and about the hunger for change that is prevailing in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is the eighth largest country in the world and the political change here has been noticed by all parts of the world.
Q: The interim government has reached out to Pakistan, China and even Turkiye and there are concerns in India, Bangladesh’s immediate neighbour, about the intentions behind these interactions.
Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus has adopted a policy on reviving the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC). It is in this context that we reached out to the leaders of the region and held talks with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the President of Maldives, and the President of Nepal. He also met representatives from Bhutan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We are looking at Bangladesh as a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia and trying to take advantage of the regional economy. We are also trying for ASEAN membership and hopefully we can become a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN soon. We are presenting Bangladesh as a gateway to the region and our partners are therefore engaging with us.
Kallol Bhattacherjee is Senior Assistant Editor at The Hindu
Published – December 21, 2025 12:17 pm IST
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No political party is favoured, nor are any under pressure: Shafiqul Alam
