Perspective from Experience: Why Bangladesh Needs a Change in Leadership

As someone who has lived through multiple regimes in Bangladesh, I find it essential to share a perspective that might not be widely understood by those who’ve only experienced the Awami League’s rule. It’s easy to be convinced that the BNP is a great party if you haven't seen both sides. But to truly understand, you don't need to read the Awami League's version of history—just ask those of us who witnessed the leadership of both Khaleda Zia and Ershad.

Corruption, for example, reached alarming heights during the BNP era. Bangladesh was crowned the most corrupt country globally five times in a row, with four of those instances under BNP's governance. We were on track for a sixth title if not for others being even more corrupt than us. We narrowly missed that "Hexa."

Additionally, the BNP’s rule saw the terrifying rise of extremist groups like JMB. Much like how the world shudders at the mention of Bin Laden, Bangladesh lived in fear of figures like Bangla Bhai and Shaykh Abdur Rahman. The country was rocked by bomb attacks that made everyday activities—like taking a bus, going to the market, or attending a university—fraught with danger. The BNP government utterly failed to control these extremists; in fact, they seemed to shelter them.

Beyond that, the BNP’s student wing, Chhatra Dal, along with Jamaat’s Chhatra Shibir, exerted an iron grip over college and university campuses. These groups were heavily involved in extortion and terrorism. They wouldn’t engage in certain vices, but they had no qualms about violence—often crippling or killing those they considered "enemies."

In summary, both the Awami League and BNP have had their share of failures. This is why I find it frustrating when people today get overly concerned about minor issues. I grew up during the height of BNP and Awami League rule—I've seen far worse.

What Bangladesh truly needs is a new kind of leadership—civil, independent, and focused on the country’s progress rather than sycophancy. We need a system where the police are free to act against even the highest officials if they break the law, and where the judiciary remains independent and fair. Everyone must operate under the constitution, with no one rising above the law.

Let’s focus our collective efforts on creating that kind of leadership.