Congratulations are in order for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) after emerging victorious in the national elections, that too with absolute majority. This is no small achievement.

In an election that has seen both the eagerness of the electorate and the hunger for change, this is now the moment for the party to acknowledge the faith that millions of citizens have placed in the party.

And it is this faith that the party must honour as victory at the ballot box is only the beginning.

The real task lies ahead: Translating electoral promises into tangible reforms, and building the Bangladesh that every citizen believes is possible.

The people did not turn up to vote to only see cosmetic changes. People have voted for a change in governance, accountability, and vision.

What lies ahead are daunting yet clear priorities. Restoring trust in institutions, ensuring transparency in public service, and strengthening democratic norms must be at the forefront. Economic stability, job creation, and investment in education and healthcare must also follow. The urgent need to address climate resilience and the rights of marginalized communities must also not be ignored.

Above all else, the BNP must remember to not repeat the mistakes of the previous administration, and to safeguard democratic ideals and encourage free speech and the freedom of the media. Our political history is rife with disappointments, of parties who have spectacularly failed to live up to expectations. This is an opportunity to break that cycle.

We therefore hope that it governs not as a party triumphant, but as one which listens to the people. Success for the BNP will mean delivering on its promises, which will not only justify the trust the people have placed in it, but also begin our goal of building a better Bangladesh.