With the national election only days away, the country finds itself in a moment of collective anxiety. Political parties are rushing to release their electoral manifestos, yet one issue stands above all others: Good governance.
People no longer accept development narratives divorced from accountability. Without a credible commitment to good governance, any manifesto -- no matter how polished -- risks becoming another catalogue of unfulfilled promises.
What Bangladesh needs today is not rhetoric, but a bold, sincere, and realistic commitment to reform, beginning from within the political parties themselves.
Winning an election is challenging, but sustaining trust, retaining moral authority, and upholding democratic norms are far more difficult, especially in a climate where public aspiration has been shaped by the spirit of the Liberation War of 1971 and the resurgence of student-led and civic awakening in July 2024.
When equality, democratic values, freedom of expression, voting rights, and public safety become the benchmarks of governance, expectations of any incoming government naturally rise. Meeting these expectations strengthens economic progress, accelerates poverty reduction, and builds resilience. Balance in society and politics invites stability; stability boosts investment; and investment reinforces the foundations of a welfare-oriented state.
A key test for any party seeking power is internal reform. Citizens deserve to know what concrete steps parties will take to dismantle extortion networks, patronage systems, and the culture of impunity nurtured under political shelter. What message will they send to those who use muscle power under the guise of party loyalty? What mechanisms will they establish to dismantle entrenched corrupt structures and the mushrooming “informal markets” of influence? Without a clear roadmap, talk of good governance remains hollow.
Equally crucial is a firm, unequivocal declaration that extrajudicial disappearances and killings will not be tolerated, and that political interference in the judiciary will end. Above all, the safety and dignity of every citizen -- regardless of religion, ethnicity, ideology, or political affiliation -- must be guaranteed.
This commitment begins with a simple but powerful principle: No citizen or institution should face threats, harassment, loss of livelihood, state intimidation, land grabbing, or mob violence solely because of identity or affiliation. If there is a charge, or if a specific offence is established through due process, the individual or institution should be proceeded against according to the law of the land -- fairly, transparently, and without discrimination.
During and after the election, law enforcement must operate with neutrality and professionalism. The armed forces remain a symbol of national confidence, and the country needs clarity that past episodes of abuse -- such as secret detentions -- will not recur.
The second foundation of any meaningful manifesto must be employment for the youth and upliftment of marginalized communities. Bangladesh has witnessed again and again how the benefits of development often evaporate into the pockets of bureaucratic layers, political brokers, business cartels, and various institutional intermediaries.
Sometimes professionals -- like lawyers, teachers, journalists, players and actors or local powerholders -- extract disproportionate advantage; sometimes an entire network of middlemen consumes the benefits. Meanwhile, ordinary citizens remain deprived of opportunities, trapped in cycles of generational poverty.
A welfare-oriented state must extend dignity and security to those pushed to the periphery. The residents of Korail slum offer a powerful reminder: They do not demand handouts -- they demand assurance that their homes will not be bulldozed overnight. Is it truly impossible to design humane housing solutions for the urban working poor? Beyond Dhaka, the same question echoes in chars, hills, and remote rural belts: What is the plan for them?
Any government capable of reducing the suffocating congestion of Dhaka and other major cities would earn widespread public gratitude. Urban mobility is no longer a luxury -- it has become a national economic priority.
Half of Bangladesh’s population is women; empowering them economically is foundational to building a modern state. Migrant workers, garment workers, and farmers -- three pillars of the national economy -- must also be placed at the heart of development planning.
Sustainable national progress is impossible without strengthening agriculture. Except for small island nations like Singapore, almost no country has achieved lasting prosperity without anchoring its growth in a strong agricultural base.
Another essential principle of governance is protecting national interest and sovereignty. Implementing a “Bangladesh first” foreign policy should mean avoiding political dependency on any regional power. The country’s diplomacy must be firm, dignified, and equidistant, focusing on peace, economic cooperation, and strategic autonomy.
Expanding international trade, diversifying partnerships, and strengthening people-to-people engagement -- often termed as track-two diplomacy -- are vital for long-term stability. It is prudent diplomacy, regional balance, and public trust that together build the most durable foundation for national interest.
Ultimately, Bangladesh does not need glossy, lengthy manifestos filled with lofty promises. What it needs is moral courage and a genuine commitment to structural reform -- policies rooted in fairness, justice, and inclusion.
The people of Bangladesh want a break from exploitative systems, a chance to move forward, and a government that is responsible and answerable. The path is difficult -- but entirely within reach, if there is political will.
Arifur Rahman Prodhan is a political analyst and development researcher.
