The administrative void that existed for three days following the resignation of Sheikh Hasina as prime minister of the country ended when an interim government, headed by Dr Muhammad Yunus, took charge on Thursday evening. The Supreme Court, in response to a presidential reference before the swearing-in ceremony, had issued a ruling clearing the way for the formation of the interim government on which students and general people are pinning high expectations. Why wouldn't they? This interim government is a product of an upsurge that the people of this country have never witnessed. Hundreds of people were killed, and properties worth billions of Taka destroyed during the movement, spearheaded by students. No one knows for sure how long this administration will last, but it would undoubtedly face tough challenges if it embarks on the task of reforming the affairs of the state. For now, it has a couple of formidable tasks--- restoration of the law and order, which has virtually collapsed, and resumption of the economic activities in full swing--- in its hand. The mass upsurge against autocracy, graft, and plundering of national resources has some clear goals, the first and foremost being the reform of the key national institutions.
The composition of the interim government is a mixed bag of activists, law practitioners, former bankers, army personnel, professionals, lawyers, students, etc. None of them are politicians, and many have never had any prior experience in government. That said, this is a nonpartisan group and the formation of this government has been made on consensus and upon discussion with various political parties except the ousted Awami League. Reforms, constitutional and beyond, will bring forth some problems. Legal experts have stated some reforms that most people aspire to see will require constitutional changes. Any constitutional amendment will require a vote from two-thirds of the members of parliament.
The various mainstream and smaller political parties want to see a timeline for the interim administration and early holding of free and fair polls. A significant non-political mass movement has ousted a political government, but uncertainty has gripped the country. The present interim government has yet to state a specific timeline for holding general elections, which is a significant sticking point. Much blood has been spilled, and it is necessary to get it right. In the aftermath of the anti-autocratic movement in 1990 that toppled President H.M. Ershad, the major political parties had made public pledges to enact change. History will testify that these pledges were ignored by both Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which had held power alternatively since then, except during a 2-year term of the last caretaker government. Students' demands have changed, and they are not interested in mere pledges. They now want to see results.
How the interim government will accommodate the students on the one hand and parties on the other needs to be seen. This government must give a timeline within which it will prepare the ground for holding a free-and-fair general election. It cannot be an open-ended affair - that will not be accepted by the mainstream political parties. The country cannot afford another major upheaval as the economy is already in significant trouble. The timeline issue must be addressed soon so that the interim government has scope to rebuild a shattered economy. However, through the interim administration, the students need to get all parties pledge-bound to enforce reforms and bring about necessary changes within a stipulated time to materialise the people's dream for a discrimination-free Bangladesh.
