A series of unmet assurances

The critics of the government say it (the government) cannot point to any solid accomplishments in the main areas of concern to the people over the last two years or more, during its present tenure. These areas that have been of great concern to the people were also the high points in the election manifesto of the main ruling party - Awami League (AL). The party had committed itself through its election manifesto to addressing such priority issues, with exceptional speed and success on going to power. But the critics have been noting - and not all without substance -- that this has not happened. For example, price normalization was at the top of the promises made by the AL. And now, prices of many essentials are increasing by a quantum leap in the markets. Another area of extraordinary importance for the economy and people's comforts is energy supply. But the supply situation about power and gas has not shown any improvement that can be claimed to be any success. Other areas of great importance to the people and the economy include, among others, manpower export, new investments, job creation, etc. On these counts, the current trends do not give any positive picture about sustainable growth. Effective governmental policies or actions to pull up the same are largely missing yet. In this context, the claim by the Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina, about the performance of her government in these last two years as being the best so far compared to all other past governments, does hardly hold true. She made this claim in her address to the nation on the occasion of the completion of the two years of the tenure of her government. Many observers of the country's scene are not agreeable to this view of the PM. Meanwhile, the PM implored the people to bear with her government a little longer and pledged afresh fulfillment of her party's commitments made through its election manifesto. But can the people really keep faith in these renewed assurances? For they were told at the end of the first year of this government that they could expect better deliveries in the next year. The next year also passed away but people found no proofs that government has succeeded in redeeming its promises in a major way. People are being asked, once again, to be patient to savour results. But given the track record of the government so far, the people are finding it harder and more difficult to put their trusts wholeheartedly in such assurances only.