is not affiliated with any organization, the ideas and recommendations are his own, personal observations and recommendations. He is a former State government official, advisor to the President of Liberia, the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, the Anti-Corruption Commission in Zambia, and the Department of Budget and Management in the Philippines, among many international assignments. He has conducted numerous consultancies for funding agencies on public financial management, general management, anti-corruption, and integrity.

Back in the not-so-distant past, before the Prime Minster fled to India, the Ruling Party in Bangladesh had arrived at a decades-long consensus agreement with the population: “Let US steal as much as we want and YOU are free to do whatever you want” That Deal with the Devil would still be flourishing today were it not for the Ides of July/August when Bangladesh’s own Caesar met her match in the collective action of students and other activists. 

Now, the curtain is just rising on a three-act play, the “Transformation of Bangladesh.”  Some characters are being removed from the stage; others are appearing. But the evolving drama needs a plot and, we hope, a clear target. Now, the final scene of the third act is a mystery. Unless properly managed it could be a tragedy. 

We can observe that many of the previous people-power revolutions confused activity with change; lots of emotion but no motion. These delayed or failed transitions include countries where I have worked and observed, such as:

EGYPT – the 2011 Tahrir Square Revolution that toppled President Hosni Mubarak led to institutional paralysis. Premature elections were held to send a message from the short-lived military regime that democracy would be restored. Dr. Mohamed Morsi was elected President and began almost immediately to limit freedoms, a sort of creeping Sharia Law that closed off the opportunity a beleaguered population craved. In short order, Morsi was also overthrown in 2013 (with the tacit approval of the international community) and General Abdel Fatah el Sisi assumed control… democracy in Egypt died that day. Is this the fate of Bangladesh…moving too fast with no end in mind? 

PHILIPPINES – President Ferdinand Marcos was overwhelmed by the People Power Revolution, fueled by popular outrage at the assassination of Senator Benigno Aquino as he set foot on the tarmac at Manila International Airport. This set off wide-spread resistance, leading to the “escape” of Marcos, his family, and his cronies (“Hawaii, I thought you said Paway?”). Mrs. Aquino, a very “nice” woman, was elected as President and systematically set out to empty the pockets of the Marcos Cronies and fill the pockets of the Aquino Cronies. Mission accomplished. Following this, the Philippines was fortunate to have the Great Man, General Fidel Ramos, lead the country for a time, but tragic (Arroyo) and comedic (Duterte) regimes followed. Irony of ironies, the current President is Ferdinand Marcos, Jr, son of the so-called tyrant. Interesting!

ZIMBABWE – In the 2008 Presidential election, Candidate Tsvangirai beat Incumbent President Mugabe. Then Mugabe and his henchmen beat the hell out of Tsvangirai’s followers. The conflict was resolved (poorly and fleetingly) through a power sharing agreement in which Mugabe would remain President and Tsvangirai could act as Prime Minister for several portfolios but not defense or foreign affairs. The whole failed venture was sad to watch. Tsvangirai was an eighth-grade school leaver who, as labor leader, was adept at challenging power. As the power, himself, he had no idea how to operate. Today Mugabe’s successor, lovingly called, The Crocodile is President in his stead. Any opposition is fragmented and ineffective. Opportunity such as now exists in Bangladesh knocks but once in a lifetime.!

Will Bangladesh miss the “tide in the affairs of men” that could “lead on to fortune”? 

There are several other first-hand, post-conflict experiences, from Sri Lanka to Burundi; from Liberia to the Congo. The universal point is this - the excitement of a one-night stand is no substitute for a stable marriage. You must work at it! Elections in late 2027 might allow the time to plan for real change not just abrupt, kneejerk motion, as noted above. And…. there will be resistance both passive and active, even violent. Stay the course!!

In what appears to be a brilliant first move, Nobel Laureate, Dr. Mohamed Yunus, the Students’ Choice as Chief Advisor, has been appointed to shepherd the country to Bangladesh 2.0. Leaving aside the legal and constitutional issues surrounding this appointment, acting “as if” you have authority is often all the authority you need.  I envision a six-step, multi-year process to create a solid foundation for progress, stability, dignity, and opportunity in a newly re-imagined Bangladesh.  The Six Steps are:

REFLECT … Bangladeshis need to understand “what happened”? How did its government act with impunity? How did the population see it, know it, and accept it as the norm? There needs to be an acknowledgment that the guardians failed in their duty to serve Bangladesh with honesty and integrity. Until this deep wound is treated, until there is a reckoning, the new Bangladesh could be different but not better. 

REVIEW…State capture by the governing party was complete and comprehensive, encompassing the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of government. The known policies, laws, protocols, contracts, procedures, and practices of the government need to be investigated through a “who benefitted” lens. All the unknown wink-wink, handshake, verbal approvals at the heart of the corrupt transactions of the past will take time to unbundle. There are multiple layers of fraud involved. I am optimistic that the current process will yield positive results. 

Similarly, a systems audit of financial, management, human resources, procurement, taxation, and similar systems must be undertaken. These have been manipulated and twisted to help elites and power brokers. The guardians were asleep at the gate, specifically, it seems, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB), both as an institutional  “guardian” and by offering a safe haven for members guilty of fraud, as explained below. 

REVISE… based on a deep, thorough and, purposeful reflection and review – an exercise that may extend over 24-36 months uninterrupted by political activity or fake elections –fundamental changes to the rules of the game need to be enacted. When self-interest is no longer a driving force a new foundation based on personal dignity, human rights, openness, equality, integrity, fairness, justice, and truth can be constructed.   

REIMAGINE… With this new legal, institutional, and ethical foundation, it may be possible to create a better Bangladesh based on a future vision that accelerates opportunity for all, based on a quality education system (sine qua non); decentralization of powers and funds transfers; tax fairness; and allocation of funds based on the needs of the total population – no more vanity projects. The co-existence of wrenching poverty with an overhead metro should never again be tolerated. 

So, what now, Bangladesh? What would be the basis for this new future? You will decide of course -  not some random “bideshi”, like me - but among the foundational principles must be 1) policies geared toward job growth, 2) citizen-led self-government at all levels; 3) fiscal transparency, especially with respect to foreign assisted projects; 4) equality and equity for women; 5) education pathways that led to a variety of viable careers, 6) national security and international cooperation; and, 7) fair and honest public administration including normal elections free from the influence of money and power (aspirational, of course). This - and probably much more - is what democracy looks like.

With a clear understanding of what went wrong, and detailed knowledge of what is broken in government, as well as in society, a comprehensive reform agenda can be identified and programmed. The strategic timeframe would be for three years, with the understanding that this first phase is a test bed for reform policy candidates not a final, conclusive plan for reform. Through learning, iteration, and adaptation the reform strategy can adjust to conditions. A five or ten-year plan, obviously, is doomed to failure since so many externalities will impinge on implementation. Three? Sounds about right.

The interim administration has already begun the REVIEW stage but much more needs to be done, especially identifying the “unknown” deals made by government to benefit self or party.  But – caution - if history is any guide, there are many unknown wink-winks to uncover. 

The interim leadership will have done its job – really, what more could be expected – if by late 2027 elections will be held for a reconstituted Parliamentary system. Nonpartisan elections, however, will be required at all subnational levels. A proper system of local governance – citizen-led and people powered – based on both own source revenue authority and national grants providing funds for local services. Some SOE’s will be slated for privatization; others for disinvestment, thus creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs to start up new businesses unburdened by political interference. Privatization and disinvestments of these white elephants will also free up fiscal space for national government to allocate to higher priorities.

Elections are a drop in the democracy bucket. Freedom, equity, integrity will be among the guiding principles for good governance, a far far far more important feature of democracy than sticking a slip of paper into a slot once every four or five years. 

Santayana warned, “Those who choose not to remember the past are cursed to repeat it.” And, so, here we are in a push-pull situation where many of the old guard are counseling Bangladeshis to put the past behind them so that they can return to the good old days of stealing you blind, while the new guard, especially the students, want a pathway to change – they want a new Bangladesh.

Reflecting on the past will expose the extent of public corruption, defined as the “abuse of entrusted power or privilege for private gain.”  If the term “corruption” is restricted to what public officials have done – even that is enormous - it will reveal greed and embezzlement and self-aggrandizement and theft and abuse of office and the secret sauce of the past government – gush.

However, even the most complete and in-depth expose of corruption by the past government, and identifying its most egregious corrupters, will not get to the root of the problem. The collapse of morality and ethics was much more widespread. The dishonesty, lack of integrity, embezzlement of funds, and cheating in even the most basic commercial transactions by corporations, businesses, merchants, and individuals must also be acknowledged if Bangladesh is to avoid being forever cursed by its past.

One final comment about the need for a deep reflection, let us focus on the failure of the so-called guardians of truth and integrity. Most prominent among these failed guardians were the financial advisors and professional chartered accountants who knowingly certified the fraudulent financial statements of at least 14000 embezzlers who repatriated their stolen money in 2021 with the blessing of the three blind mice at MOF, BB, and NRB.  It appears that the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) failed miserably in its mission as a guardian. Individual member companies and individual chartered accountants violated their professional oaths and colluded with the robbers. The past administration offered the embezzlers, money launderers, and their chartered accountants, anonymity and confidentiality. As Santayana advises, it is time to “remember the past” by exposing this sorry chapter in Bangladesh’s history. Publish a list of all those who sought to whiten black money and purge the facilitators/enablers from any future role in public finance. 

The interim administration/government has taken up the legal review with purpose. All the laws passed during the administration of the “Name We Dare Not Speak” are being assessed for their negative impact on human rights. This will be cathartic. A comprehensive legislative agenda will follow, I am sure, although acting by executive order or executive decree may be preferable to address immediate concerns. Digging deeper into the Nuremberg-type abuses of authority, e.g., “I was just following orders” will take much longer and may require a broad grant of amnesty to encourage officers to come forward.

Hiding in plain sight, are the legal instruments and administrative decisions derived from these laws, charters, and memoranda of State-Owned Enterprises. Unpacking the legal, financial, and ethical mess of some of these legacy SOEs will take time and courage. Lots of vested interests will need to be challenged.  Ideally, many of these burdens will need to be sold off.

 The focus here should be public administration, human resource management and service delivery. Revising and amending these areas may open cans of worms that are deeply embarrassing, revealing the state of corruption involved in payoffs for jobs (3 lakh to be a sweeper at the airport?); abuse of discretionary authority (10000 “sweets” for No Objection Certificate?); sexual favors for promotions, whether for students or workers; cronyism; kickbacks and bribes, and on and on. This is forensic. This exercise is not for weak hearts and minds. This will shake people’s faith in government, as a democratic principle, to the core. 

One huge issue is how to deal with the devolution of powers under a new decentralized model. The long arm of past administration touched every ward, village, union, upazila, district, municipality, and city. Certainly, the immediate priority is to concentrate on central administrative arrangements, but right now Bangladesh does not work for the people. Great things have been accomplished (recognizing, however, that every piece of data has been twisted and used as propaganda). But in the process, many corners were cut, many eyes were shut, many mouths were muted…right down to the lowest level. The ship of state can accumulate a lot of barnacles in a decade and a half.

Ahhhhh, the fun part. It is not advisable to throw the baby out with the bath water, so Bangladesh 2.0 will carry forward some positives to be added to an innovative redesign of a future nation. Bangladesh is still youthful; in the life of man/woman it is in its late twenties or early thirties. Loaded with energy and ready to craft a revised pathway to excellence. 

Engaging the youth – students and young professionals – seems to be imperative at this tipping point. Initially, they were against something that was unjust. This morphed into something far more powerful…a national consensus that the whole shebang was out of whack! 

Reimagining Bangladesh is a very exciting prospect. It will require a vision, a passion, and a commitment to (i) change what needs to be changed, (ii) save what needs to be changed and (iii) create and introduce totally new drivers that have their genesis in the broader global thinksphere or even percolate up from a village meeting in Barisal. Every idea is welcome.

But caution is necessary…all the empty blather about the game-changing Fourth Industrial Revolution or ESG (greenwashing by a fancy acronym) is a cautionary warning sign that jumping on board a fad is not what reimagine means. 

This is an interesting word. It does not mean revolution nor deconstruction nor upheaval. Rather, the image that may work best is to re-form Bangladesh using the same blood, sweat and tears from 1971 but focused on the people not the icon. Bangladesh can “re-form” itself into something that looks different and serves a different purpose. Young countries like Bangladesh can change their ways, with the self-recognition that there has been a painful stumble. 

It is also true that most spontaneous uprisings, fail in the long run. Not only does the energy wane but there are numerous negative forces that will oppose re-forming Bangladesh, just as there were in the countries cited above, or in the Arab Spring (pfffft, up in smoke, except perhaps Tunisia), or by the tanks crushing “Hong Kong Man”. This will take a national commitment, founded on democracy, human rights, integrity, and mutual respect. 

Institutional reform is essential: too many independent approving authorities forcing citizens to run the gauntlet. Governance reform is necessary so that clearly stated rights – the rules of the game - are clear. Administrative reform may be the toughest to address with this cadre or that cadre clinging desperately to the unearned benefits they have achieved.  Structural reform…transferring duties, power, and money from Dhaka to a newly shaped and invigorated system of subnational “quasi-local governments” reporting directly to the people they are supposed to serve is a great vision. Fiscal and financial reform will involve a tax on wealth (real estate especially), canceling all TINs that have not paid taxes during the past three years (in other words all those companies that do not make the minimum effort to be legal entities); and, conditioning rights and benefits on the payment of income tax (no study abroad for Farzana if daddy and mummy haven’t paid their taxes).

And…. there seems to be an urgent need for reform within a large box marked “NATIONAL VALUES”. Something went haywire during the past fifteen years. Was there a tipping point (the 2018 elections?) or a gradual erosion? Did the citizens observe and know that corruption was the national currency and decide if they wanted to get along, they would go along? Self inspection – but not self flagellation – would be a good thing, before placing a band-aid on the cancer. But the core principle underlying this reform exercise, I believe, is FORGIVENESS

A New Bangladesh will not come with a big bang- progressive change has already started and it is reassuring. The recommended three-year strategy is intended to signal urgency, immediacy, and commitment to do something positive and progressive BUT! Like Egypt, rushed elections could be a disaster, ALSO, like Zimbabwe failure to act on the positive momentum for change will lead to finger-pointing, backsliding, and nothing good for Bangladeshis, a very kind and respectful population that want the best for their kids.