BANGLADESH鈥橲 political landscape is rapidly shifting as the country prepares for its next national election, the first to be held after three successive, widely criticised and allegedly rigged elections under the previous fascist regime of Sheikh Hasina. In recent weeks, a series of developments, from a public apology by Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr Shafiqur Rahman to the interim government鈥檚 policy decisions under Dr Muhammad Yunus, has reopened long-suppressed debates on accountability, women鈥檚 rights, and secular governance.
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A carefully worded apology
ACCORDING to The Diplomat (November 3, 2025), Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr Shafiqur Rahman issued an 鈥榰nconditional apology鈥� to the people of Bangladesh for any suffering caused since 1947. While symbolic, the apology stopped short of explicitly addressing the party鈥檚 role during the 1971 Liberation War. For many, the apology was a cautious political step rather than a full moral reckoning, which is an attempt to re-enter mainstream politics by acknowledging the past without confronting it directly.
Still, even a limited gesture can serve as an opening for broader reflection on national reconciliation, but in this case, the vagueness of the apology has done the opposite. Rather than fostering trust, it has created further confusion and scepticism, particularly among younger generations who, armed with digital access to historical records and testimonies, can easily discern half-truths from sincerity. For many youths, such ambiguous contrition feels less like a step toward healing and more like an attempt to rewrite history for electoral convenience.
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Women鈥檚 work and economic inclusion
AROUND the same time, Jamaat鈥檚 leadership floated the idea of reducing women鈥檚 daily work hours from eight to five. Though presented as a measure to help working mothers, many observers noted that such a policy could unintentionally restrict female participation in the labour market. The proposal has been sharply criticised by almost all major political parties, civil society organisations, professional groups, academics, and women鈥檚 rights organisations across the country. Bangladesh鈥檚 experience shows that women鈥檚 economic empowerment, through equal work opportunities, childcare facilities, and safe workplaces, has been one of the key drivers of national progress. For many women, the proposed reduction of working hours signals a rollback of their hard-earned civil and economic rights. Any reform in this area must therefore strengthen, not limit, women鈥檚 agency.
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Policy neutrality and the Yunus government
MEANWHILE, the interim administration led by Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus has drawn both hope and concern. Firstpost (Nov 2025) reported that the government recently withdrew plans to appoint new music and physical-education teachers after pressure from conservative groups. This decision raised questions about the balance between accommodating the religious sensitivities of a fraction and protecting Bangladesh鈥檚 secular educational ethos. Education experts warn that removing music and physical education from schools not only narrows cultural learning but also disempowers young people by depriving them of essential soft skills such as creativity, teamwork, emotional intelligence, and discipline. Such a setback could have lasting, even irreversible, consequences for Bangladesh鈥檚 youth development and social cohesion.
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A nation at a crossroads
BANGLADESH鈥橲 achievements over the past five decades, in literacy, health, women鈥檚 empowerment, and poverty reduction, are rooted in the country鈥檚 pluralistic spirit. As old divisions resurface in new forms, what matters most is reaffirming a collective commitment to democratic accountability and gender equality. The coming election offers an opportunity for renewal. Apologies can heal only if followed by responsibility; economic reforms can succeed only if inclusive; and governance can endure only if secularism and fairness remain its foundation. Bangladesh deserves leadership that looks forward and one that builds unity through justice, equality, and respect for all citizens.
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听SM Ziauddin Hyder is an adviser to the chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and a former senior health and nutrition specialist at the World Bank.
