A Yr of Excessive Expectations and Frustrations — International Points
DHAKA, Bangladesh, January 8 (IPS) – As lots of you recognize, out of the blue, I’ve been referred to as in to help the Interim Authorities led by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus in stabilising the financial system left in ruins by the fallen autocratic-kleptocratic regime that looted the banks, stole public cash and robbed small traders within the capital market to siphon off billions of {dollars} in a foreign country. I had by no means served in a authorities; neither had I ever anticipated this chance. Nevertheless, my UN expertise and political financial system understanding have been helpful.
Reflecting again the yr that we have now simply handed, I belief, you’ve been properly as we wished one another initially of 2025 the very best of our well being and spirit. Sadly, regardless of our earnest want, the world was not peaceable throughout 2025.
Hopes and international dysfunction
Hopes kindled briefly for justice for the Palestinians because the European powers, together with Australia (a European settler colony) had been compelled to recognise the Palestine State, and Narcissist Trump pushed for some peace in each Ukraine and Gaza in his mad desperation for a Nobel Peace Prize.
But Gaza remains to be being bombarded with Israel’s genocidal intent, making a mockery of deranged Trump’s rhetorical declare of reaching “peace within the Center East for the primary time in 3,000 years”, and the unlawful occupation of the West Financial institution together with settler violence continues unabated with full immunity in blatant violations of worldwide legal guidelines.
Narcissist Trump sanctioned the Worldwide Felony Courtroom (ICC) and Worldwide Courtroom of Justice (ICJ) in his determined try to save lots of Israeli battle criminals, together with Benjamin Netanyahu and justify Israel’s genocide and settler violence. Trump upended his assault on the rule-based order with arbitrary so-called ‘reciprocal tariff’.
Bangladesh
As for the post-fascist Hasina Bangladesh, the yr 2025 started with excessive expectations. And as for me, the yr 2025 has been extra-ordinary.
Immediately, I’m happy to say that we have now been in a position to avert a full-blown disaster. Coronary heart-felt because of our ‘remittance fighters’ who whole-heartedly trusted the Interim Authorities’s numerous reform initiatives. Expatriate Bangladeshis despatched a file $30.04 bn in remittances within the 2024–25 fiscal yr, the best quantity ever acquired in a single fiscal yr within the nation’s historical past. Foreign exchange reserves surged to $33 bn, hitting 3-year excessive as December remittances crossed $3bn. You will get a report card by Finance Advisor, Dr. Salehuddin and myself, printed within the Each day Star on 18 August 2025.
In fact, not all the pieces has been rosy. The much-hoped systemic transition stays stuffed with uncertainty. I see systemic transition as the method of whole transformation of a caterpillar inside a cocoon. We nonetheless have no idea whether or not the ‘caterpillar within the cocoon’ will develop into a butterfly or a moth. Individuals are genuinely anxious because the previous systemic transition alternatives had been wasted.
I personally discovered road-blocks at each flip. Bureaucratic inertia and resistance have annoyed my efforts for real reforms. It has been a real-life expertise of the traditional British political satire, “Sure, Minister”. Like Sir Humphrey Appleby, the bureaucrats will show outwardly extra-ordinary humbleness, however will politely defy citing guidelines of enterprise. Bureaucratic resistance is the primary stumbling block for reaching coordination, coherence and integration in coverage making and implementation, thus, inflicting wasteful duplications, inefficiency and lack of effectiveness.
Nonetheless, I achieved some success. One in every of them is the settlement to increase the voluntary Bangladesh Nationwide Cadet Corps programme to cowl ALL youths (aged 18) in 10-12 years, in order that we will have a disciplined workforce to be readily deployed throughout any nationwide emergency. For sure, that that is an crucial to understand demographic dividend. We hope to roll out the programme from July 2026 to coincide with the July Revolution anniversary.
Regardless of frustrations and uncertainties, I’m hopeful as I can see a seismic shift within the political dynamics of the nation. This coincides with the demographic shift – the youth (15-30 years) representing almost 30% of the inhabitants. These youths have a unique vocabulary of politics; they need justice, inclusion, self-respect, and dignity – they’re fiercely nationalist.
Lately martyred Hadi is their embodiment. The institution is understandably threatened and tried to silence the youth by assassinating Hadi; however they didn’t extinguish the flame, as an alternative, everybody has turn into a Hadi, standing unwavering of their dedication to hold out Hadi’s mission of constructing a simply nation the place residents can stay with dignity, free from worry, subjugation, and oppression. Hadi re-centred our nationwide conscience on Insaf: justice, dignity, and equity not as rhetorical slogans, however as non-negotiable moral foundations of the State and society.
In an period of ethical drift, Hadi reminded the nation that no political order can final with out justice at its core. He ignited a era with civic braveness and ethical duty. Free from worry, patronage, or transactional politics, younger individuals noticed in Hadi a brand new mannequin of management: moral, principled, and accountable. In doing so, he reshaped the long run political character of Bangladesh and moved nationwide considering past entrenched legacy energy buildings towards people-centric, principled governance. He challenged the inevitability of corruption and coercion, insisting as an alternative that politics might be reclaimed as an ethical vocation. His life poses an everlasting query to those that search energy: Will you serve justice, or merely rule?
Let me finish this year-end message with my private tribute to Khaleda Zia, who has not too long ago handed away after a protracted sickness imposed on her by the vindictive Hasina regime, falsely convicting her and imprisoning in a substandard cell. Like her husband, Shaheed President Zia, she was thrust into the whirlpool of historical past. They by no means sought energy; however when the duty fell on their shoulders, they carried out their duties to the nation whole-heartedly and selflessly; thus, they turned a real statesman (girl), successful hearts and minds of their individuals.
Maybe Khaleda Zia’s most enduring legacy lies in her extraordinary restraint and dignified disposition, even underneath extreme and extended adversity. Her self-restraint, rooted in grace somewhat than weak point, distinguished her from lots of her contemporaries and gives a robust lesson for at present’s typically abrasive and confrontational political tradition.
Warmest regards and finest needs for the New Yr
IPS UN Bureau
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