In the current political reality of Bangladesh, the Tarique Rahman government faces five major and historic challenges—establishing political stability, strengthening democratic institutions, economic recovery, pursuing a diversified foreign policy based on national interests, and institutionalising the aspirations of the 2024 mass uprising.

Addressing these challenges requires more than political declarations; it requires an integrated framework of time-bound, measurable and institution-based decision-making. The first 100 days of the new government and the following one year may be regarded as a critical period for this reconstruction.

1. Establishing Political Stability

After a prolonged period of political instability and state transformation, the first responsibility will be to create a political environment in which the government remains strong, but not by suppressing dissent; rather, through constitutional institutions and political dialogue.

Government’s course of action

a. Avoiding the politics of retribution:
If the law is to be enforced against political opponents, it must be based on specific allegations, evidence and a transparent legal process. Political identity should never be the sole reason for filing cases or subjecting anyone to administrative harassment.

b. Ensuring the constitutional rights of the opposition:
The rights to hold meetings and rallies, express opinions, organise politically and participate in parliamentary activities must be guaranteed.

c. ‘Zero Tolerance’ towards party-based violence:
If anyone uses the identity of the ruling party to engage in occupation, extortion, tender manipulation, land grabbing or political violence, prompt organisational and legal action must be taken.

d. Controlling political conflicts at the local level:
Mechanisms to prevent political violence should be developed at the district and upazila levels through coordination among the administration, police and political leadership.

e. National political dialogue:
The government should regularly engage in dialogue with opposition parties, civil society, professionals, academics and representatives of the younger generation.

Core principle of decision-making

“Political stability should be established not by controlling political opponents through power, but through trust, the rule of law and dialogue.”

2. Strengthening Democratic Institutions

One of the most important long-term decisions of the new government could be to ensure that state institutions are run on the basis of law, competence, integrity and constitutional responsibility, rather than partisan loyalty.

Government’s course of action

a. Ensuring effective independence of the Election Commission:
The administrative and financial capacity of the Election Commission must be strengthened, while political interference in electoral decisions must be reduced.

b. Merit-based appointments in the civil administration:
Competence, experience, integrity and professional qualifications must be prioritised over partisan loyalty in transfers and appointments.

c. Police reform:
The police must be developed not as a force for suppressing political opponents, but as a professional institution responsible for protecting citizens and upholding the rule of law.

d. Independence of the judiciary:
The judiciary must not be allowed to be used as an instrument of political retaliation, and the independence and accountability of the judicial process must be ensured.

e. Strengthening parliamentary oversight:
The standing committees of the National Parliament must be made effective so that strong oversight can be established over public expenditure, the activities of ministries and state projects.

The most important decision

The government must build institutions that will cooperate with the BNP government today, but if the BNP becomes an opposition party in the future, will still be able to monitor it with the same degree of neutrality.

This will be the true test of institutional democracy.

3. Economic Recovery and Reduction of Inequality

The government’s long-term legitimacy will be determined more by economic outcomes than by political popularity. Unless people’s purchasing power, employment, inflation, investment and income inequality improve, political stability will not be sustainable either.

Government’s course of action

a. National Economic Recovery Roadmap for the first 100 days:
A time-bound action plan for economic recovery must be announced.

b. Controlling inflation:
The supply chain must be strengthened, market competition increased, artificial shortages and syndicates controlled, and market monitoring of essential commodities intensified.

c. Banking-sector reform:
Impartial and institutional measures must be taken against non-performing loans, weak bank governance, political influence and money laundering.

d. Employment for young people:
Extensive employment opportunities must be created in industry, information technology, AI, software, freelancing, startups, agricultural technology and small and medium-sized enterprises.

e. Investment climate:
One-stop services, faster approvals, uninterrupted energy supply, policy continuity and a corruption-free administration must be ensured.

f. Revenue reform:
The tax administration must be made digital and transparent to broaden the tax base; at the same time, harassment of taxpayers must be reduced.

Core principle of economic decision-making

“Increase production and investment; stop waste and money laundering.”

The government’s economic objective should not be merely GDP growth; rather, it should be employment, productivity, income growth and reduction of inequality.

4. A Diversified Foreign Policy Based on National Interests

Bangladesh’s geopolitical position is such that excessive dependence on any single power may create strategic risks in the long term. Therefore, implementing a “Bangladesh First” policy requires strategic multi-alignment.

Relations with India

Relations with India should be based on sovereign equality, mutual respect and national interests.

Priority should be given to—

border security;
reducing loss of life along the border;
the waters of shared rivers;
trade balance;
communication and regional connectivity;
security cooperation;
the interests of border communities.

Considering India an enemy would be contrary to Bangladesh’s interests, just as excessive dependence on India would also be contrary to the national interest.

Relations with China

China’s capabilities in infrastructure, industry, technology and investment may be utilised; however, the economic viability, debt sustainability, transparency and national interest must be ensured in every project.

Relations with the United States and Europe

Cooperation in exports, technology, investment, labour markets, skills development and advanced manufacturing systems must be expanded.

Japan and other partners

Long-term infrastructure, human resources, technology and skills development should be prioritised.

Core principle of foreign policy

“Friendship with all, dependency on none; national interest above geopolitical alignment.”

In other words, friendship with everyone, but dependence on no one.

5. Institutionalising the Aspirations of the 2024 Mass Uprising

This could be the new government’s greatest historic opportunity.

If the 2024 movement is viewed merely as an event of political change, its historical significance will be diminished. The aspirations associated with it—democracy, accountability, justice, a corruption-free state, reduction of inequality and citizens’ rights—must be given a permanent form through state institutions and laws.

Government’s course of action

a. Timeline for the July Charter and constitutional reforms:
A public roadmap must be provided specifying which reforms will be implemented, when and how.

b. Checks and Balances on the Prime Minister’s powers:
Effective constitutional checks and balances must be established to prevent excessive centralisation of executive power.

c. Independence of the judiciary and the Election Commission:
The independence of these two institutions must be ensured not merely in law, but also in their actual functioning.

d. Independence of the Anti-Corruption Commission:
The institution must be made free from political influence, competent and effective in combating corruption.

e. Freedom of expression and the media:
The right to criticise the government must be recognised as an integral part of democracy.

f. Merit-based appointments to state institutions:
Competence and integrity, rather than partisan identity, must become the principal criteria for appointments and promotions in state institutions.

Historical lesson

“No individual, party or government should ever be allowed to become synonymous with the state in the future.”

What kind of strategy should be adopted? ৷ ‘100-Day National Stabilisation Programme’ for the Government

To address the five challenges, the government may divide the first 100 days into three phases and adopt a National Stabilisation and Reform Programme.

First 30 Days — Stability

National declaration against political violence;
Instructions to ensure professionalism in the administration and police;
Emergency assessment of the market and banking sectors;
Initiation of national political dialogue;
Urgent measures to restore investor and business confidence.

Days 31–60 — Foundation for Reform

Roadmap for constitutional and institutional reforms;
Action plan for banking-sector reform;
Investment and industrialisation programme;
Youth employment programme;
Special measures to prevent corruption and money laundering;
Determination of foreign-policy priorities.

Days 61–100 — Implementation and Evaluation

Publication of progress on electoral and constitutional reforms;
Implementation of the first phase of banking and financial-sector reforms;
Announcement of a national employment plan;
Publication of progress on administrative reforms;
Publication of a 100-Day Performance Report.

This will make the difference between the government’s commitments and its actual performance clear to the people and will also increase government accountability.

Main Objective

The core strategy for addressing the five historic challenges facing the Tarique Rahman government should be not “preserving power”, but “rebuilding the state”.

Political stability will come through tolerance, dialogue and the rule of law; democratic institutions will be strengthened by freeing them from partisan influence; the economy will recover through good governance, investment and productivity; foreign policy will be conducted on the basis of national interests and strategic balance; and the aspirations of 2024 will be realised through constitutional and institutional reforms.

The measure of success should not be merely how many years the BNP remains in power. The true measure of success will be whether it can leave behind a state structure in which no party, Prime Minister or political group can turn the machinery of the state into an instrument of personal or partisan power in the future.

“That is where the historic success or failure of Tarique Rahman’s leadership will ultimately be determined.”

• *[ Columnist Professor M. A. Barnik is a high-level defence analyst and a keen observer of international geopolitical developments ]*