Before Narendra Modi came to power, that is, before 2014, India was the world’s tenth-largest economy. There, tycoons may accumulate wealth, but they cannot dominate policymaking. Former IMF Chief Economist and current Harvard professor Gita Gopinath believes that by 2028, India will become the third-largest economy after the United States and China. This progress has been made possible by politicians’ policymaking capacity, guided by legal and economic experts. BNP must demonstrate the same.In policymaking, there should be no place for mystics, bank looters, or land-grabbers. This is the foundational lesson in building a cautious economy.

Had Professor Yunus’ period in power not occurred, we might never have understood what shortsightedness truly means. Sheikh Saadi said that one learns manners by observing the ill-mannered. There is a proverb: all’s well that ends well. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Yunus did hold an election, but he did not make it inclusive of all parties. He shifted the risk onto others’ shoulders. Just a few days ago, the hastily concluded US trade agreement undermined the country’s sovereignty in commercial decision-making under the veil of secrecy.

Professor Yunus’ unusual eagerness regarding port-related agreements is questionable, and it is not beyond doubt that the self-interest of his own group may be involved. At a time when poverty is rising in the country, his enthusiasm for arms deals resembles the behaviour of a restless stock market speculator. The BNP government will have to move in the opposite direction of such careless and imprudent steps.