The interim government has repeatedly said the 13th national election will be held in the first half of February. Yet doubts surface in politicians’ remarks.

Amid this, debate has grown over a “safe exit” for some advisers. Some claim certain advisers are working for a particular side. The central question is this: How successful is the interim government that took charge after the July mass uprising? How far has it delivered on its reform pledges? 

In an interview with Banglanews, Shafiqul Alam, the press secretary to the Chief Adviser of the interim government, addressed these issues and more. Chief Multimedia Reporter Minhaz Chowdhury conducted the interview. 

Banglanews: You were a journalist for a long time and were often critical of past governments. You are now part of the government. Which is more challenging—journalism or being in power?

Shafiqul Alam: Each comes with distinct challenges. Journalism was especially challenging under Sheikh Hasina. You could not state the truth plainly; you had to couch it carefully. I was at AFP for 20 years, which gave me a degree of immunity, but not assistance. I had to think through every report. This role (press secretary) is more challenging; its scope is far broader. A single ill-chosen word can draw a barrage of abuse the next day. In a live press conference, there is no scope to edit. If you misspeak, you can imagine the consequences.

Banglanews: After 15 months, do you think the interim government has succeeded? Have the aspirations of the mass uprising been realised?

Shafiqul Alam: We have come very close. We are near the old Bangladesh’s jetty, so to speak—we can see it. The boat will berth there soon. The many clouds have cleared; we can now see the clear autumn sky. We hope to hold a good election. Our mandate was reform; to try cases of abductions and extrajudicial killings from July–August and the Sheikh Hasina era; and to organise a credible election. We have nearly completed two of these tasks. As you know, except for a few parties, everyone has signed the July Charter. We hope the election-related work will be completed swiftly and we can deliver a good election to the nation.

Banglanews: On the eve of the July Charter’s signing, you told an interviewer to “wait till the end—everyone will be on board.” However, the NCP stated that it had no legal basis. The NCP—formed by leaders of the mass uprising—ultimately did not sign the agreement. Your response?

Shafiqul Alam: From drafting to the end, they were with us. We salute their contribution. The nation will remember their sacrifice and leadership in July and August. In the final stretch, they evidently had questions—legal and otherwise. But government channels remain in touch with them. Not signing that day does not mean they will not sign ahead. 

Banglanews: A photo went viral on social media showing Hasnat and Sarjis around the chief adviser upon his arrival after the uprising, but none of them were around him on the day of the July Charter signing. Does this indicate distance from the government? 

Shafiqul Alam: You cannot judge reality from a single photo—who was around then or not now. The BNP, Jamaat and left parties were all in the July movement. The students, of course, led it. We acknowledge their contribution will be written in golden letters. Until the very end—on the day the chief adviser spoke at the Foreign Service Academy—leaders, including Akhtar Hossain (NCP’s member secretary), were present. They did not sign because specific points are still under discussion. I do not think there is any distance here. We hope our NCP brothers and sisters will sign.

Banglanews: How business-friendly has this government been? How conducive is the investment climate?

Shafiqul Alam: The government has been sufficiently pro-business. Last fiscal year, our exports grew by roughly 9 percent. Economies usually contract after mass uprisings; ours expanded by about four percent. Perhaps less than some, but we have not cooked the numbers—the sort of thing Sheikh Hasina often did. A major complaint from businesses was that they could not buy dollars on the market; the market is now awash with dollars. There are no complaints about rates. The taka–dollar exchange rate is now stable; in some cases, the taka is strengthening. The unrest in the garments sector has subsided. Out of three to four thousand factories, perhaps six or seven are troubled—this happens everywhere.

Banglanews: Given the billions laundered under the Awami League, is the economy now stable?

Shafiqul Alam: Definitely in perfect shape. You can ask the business community. They are reinvesting. I believe Bangladesh is now in an ideal position for investment.

Banglanews: Three fires have occurred in the past week. At Shahjalal International Airport—one of the country’s most critical sites—it took some five to six hours to douse the blaze (per government). Was this a failure of the Fire Service? In such a place, is fire purely an accident, or sabotage?

Shafiqul Alam: A committee has been formed to determine whether it was an accident or sabotage. As a government, you cannot rush to judgment before an investigation.

Banglanews: Yet the public often distrusts inquiry committees. Is that right?

Shafiqul Alam: This is true everywhere, not only in Bangladesh—even in cases of unnatural death. Only after post-mortems and forensic processes are completed are findings released. It takes multiple results to reach a cause. Likewise, fire investigations take time. Much must be considered when dousing fires in such facilities. We believe the Fire Service demonstrated ample competence. We are investigating each incident seriously.

Banglanews: Is there also a trust deficit regarding advisers? NCP convener Nahid Islam—who served as an adviser—has said many advisers want a “safe exit.” Will advisers indeed seek a safe exit?

Shafiqul Alam: I do not know what he means by “safe exit.” Advisers will hand over their responsibilities to an elected government and depart. If that is what he calls “safe exit”… naturally, we want it to be dignified. They have done nothing to require otherwise. They are Bangladeshi citizens who love their country. Even after leaving office, they will continue serving the nation.

Banglanews: If another politician had said this, it might have been taken in stride. But he was among the advisers.

Shafiqul Alam: I am not familiar with the context. We believe the advisers’ contribution over the past 15 months will be written in golden letters in the nation’s history.

Banglanews: Could there be changes in the Advisory Council before the national election?

Shafiqul Alam: No—we do not see that. I have not heard of such a thing. If we are informed later, that is another matter. However, I am not aware of any such plan at this time.

Banglanews: Political parties allege that some advisers are favouring certain parties. Jamaat leader Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher has even said he has recordings. Why are such allegations made?

Shafiqul Alam: Politicians say many things; we do not accept everything. We do not know the context. If anyone has evidence, bring it. We believe the advisers have provided commendable service over the past 15 months. In a national crisis, they took the helm. Their service will be written in golden letters in our history.

Banglanews: Past heads of government held press conferences upon returning from foreign trips and took questions from the media. We have not seen the current head of government take direct questions in such sessions, except for a few exceptions. Might we see that in the future?

Shafiqul Alam: Did the previous head of government send press releases from abroad? You rarely saw that. Our current head of government sends a press release for every meeting—complete with photos, updates on who he met, and what was discussed—so you're informed. There is thus little need for a separate press conference upon return. Even so, we are available; we take journalists’ questions and are happy to speak. Whatever people say, we answer. In Dhaka and across the country, everyone knows they can reach out to us. The previous head of government travelled with 250 people. We know what happened.

Banglanews: Still, asking the head of government directly…

Shafiqul Alam: We do that on his behalf. Are your questions not being answered?

Banglanews: Certainly.

Shafiqul Alam: Must you hear it from his mouth alone? He has a press team. They speak. I speak. My colleagues speak. We inform everyone about the actions being taken, and we issue press releases. Nothing is secret. Every day, every meeting abroad—photos come out. Where video is needed, video comes out. We immediately issue a press release in either Bengali or English. You report accordingly.

Banglanews: Since foreign trips have become a concern, another question arises. On some trips, there has been talk that he is not meeting the host country’s prime minister or head of state. Also, as head of government, he is allegedly not being accorded the expected airport reception.

Shafiqul Alam: Those who make such claims do not know these trips well and spread misinformation. For example, the Italy trip was multilateral—he attended the FAO conference and the World Food Forum. It was not bilateral, not a state visit to Italy. If it were bilateral, he would certainly have met the prime minister. He met everyone connected to FAO, IFAD and the World Food Programme; he also spoke with heads of state who came to the FAO programme—such as President Lula of Brazil—and with the prime minister of Djibouti. He had substantial meetings focused on that agenda. On bilateral visits, China was represented by a Chinese minister; he received the visitor. Japan was bilateral; the same. Protocols were according to their standards. The Awami League has its so-called acolytes—you have seen what their prime minister did. She travelled with 250 people; stayed ten extra days on a two-day trip; even hired private security in some cases—millions of dollars were spent. Nobody asked questions then; they do now. Our chief adviser has made about 14 trips, all important. In most countries, the head of state leads foreign policy. We are a post-revolution country; we need global support and must seize every opportunity. 

Banglanews: Following the interim government's assumption of office, allegations have been brought against the army after a long period. Will allegations against the military affect relations with the government?

Shafiqul Alam: No, no. The International Crimes Tribunal is investigating those deemed suspects in specific matters.

Banglanews: Yet you know that on social media—every so often—there is coup speculation…

Shafiqul Alam: That is being engineered by Awami League’s fellow-travellers and so-called senior journalists aligned with them. They are enjoying media freedom.

Banglanews: Is there any risk of a coup?

Shafiqul Alam: Why a coup? The military is an organ of the state. It is doing its job. 

Banglanews: Under previous governments, DGFI harassed opposition figures, pressured media to pull stories, and exerted various forms of coercion. What is the situation now? Are they reporting correctly to the head of government? Is DGFI the same as before, or has it changed?

Shafiqul Alam: Under this government, DGFI fully protects human rights and is a vital institution for us. It is performing its mandated duties—and doing so very well.

Banglanews: NCP says the Election Commission has been carved up among BNP, Jamaat and advisers. They insist they will not contest without the “Shapla” symbol, while the EC says it cannot grant it. With mid-February announced as the likely election window, will their not getting a symbol affect the polls?

Shafiqul Alam: No. Our election will be held on time. These are minor matters. All will be resolved in due course.

Banglanews: The Awami League’s political activities have been suspended. Why not ban the party outright?

Shafiqul Alam: For good reason. You have heard the leaked audios of their leader directing killings; footage shows their cadres involved. There is ample video of them taking to the streets with lethal weapons. Yet the party shows no remorse. Instead, it fabricates lies—claiming 3,000 police officers were killed—to justify its own killings with horrific falsehoods. It continues to issue threats. In messages and videos, or in audio, their leader orders more killings—“we will see who does what.” What a mass killer—Bangladesh has not seen a greater butcher. But there is no repentance.

Banglanews: Then what path remains for them to return to politics?

Shafiqul Alam: We do not know. They must decide. No one brings killers into a political process. They must think about how to return. The first condition is to accept responsibility for wrongdoing—to admit mistakes and remove those who committed them. But with the election ahead, it is too late. Perhaps the next government will consider it.

Banglanews: So will they be able to take part in the election?

Shafiqul Alam: The election commissioner has spoken clearly. Have you heard any remorse from them? Who killed the many youths in July–August, and before that the three to four thousand who were disappeared, the two and a half to three thousand victims of extrajudicial killings—who did this? And theft—have you heard of such looting in Bangladesh or even in Asia? Not even under Marcos in the Philippines. They stole 234 billion of our money. The Awami League leadership led the looting of banks. Where is their “sorry” for that? We are now struggling to restore the banks to health. Our central bank governor is working tirelessly. Inshallah, we are on the right path. 

Banglanews: Will you return to politics?

Shafiqul Alam: No, no. I will either return to journalism or stay home. Politics—no. People expect many things; meeting those is hard. In Bangladesh, politicians are burdened with demands that should not fall on them—constituents will ask for jobs, promotions, bank loans, support, even to condone crimes by party men. That is not my work, sorry. Professor Yunus appointed me to a position; I feel honoured to have served in his administration. I want to carry that pride all my life.

Banglanews: And if the next government offers you a role?

Shafiqul Alam: No, sorry.

Banglanews: Will you return to journalism, working for foreign or Bangladeshi media? Will you go back to your old outlet?

Shafiqul Alam: There is no way to return to my previous organisation—I resigned from there. Let’s see who takes me.

Banglanews: There were reports that you might join the newly launched outlet “Dhaka Stream.” Is that true?

Shafiqul Alam: No. I have had no such discussion with them. With the election by February 15 and a swift handover, you may not even see me on Facebook. I need rest, then I will look for a job. I will try to secure a good position somewhere. I love writing; it’s something I truly enjoy.

Banglanews: Final question. You and everyone, including the chief adviser, have repeatedly stated that the election will be held by February 15 and that it will be the best in Bangladesh’s history. How can you be so sure?

Shafiqul Alam: Because the nation is now looking to this election and believes it will be good. When do elections go bad in Bangladesh? When the government rigs them. But the government is neutral here. It will not favour anyone and will ensure a level playing field. The Election Commission will likewise strive for fairness. You will be able to campaign freely, and the public will be able to participate in the political process. From before polling day to after—should there be violence—we are taking all necessary security measures. The election commissioner has said there will be 90,000 to 1,00,000 army personnel deployed. In previous elections, there were never more than 50,000 to 60,000; this time, it is nearly double. In all, around 850,000 security personnel will be on duty. If we remain neutral, ensure security, sustain strong community participation and if parties keep their grassroots in order, this will be the finest election in Bangladesh’s history. I do not think there has been a better one. We are working accordingly. Today, the Election Commission meets; tomorrow, the Chief Adviser’s Office meets; the day after, the Home Ministry meets. All preparations are underway. We hope for an excellent election. Four students’ union polls—DUCSU, JUCSU, RUCSU, CUCSU—were held without incidents of violence. There were a few complaints, but nothing significant. Did you hear of any violence? In the past, we heard of many incidents in DUCSU and RUCSU. Now four elections have been held—beautifully and peacefully. We believe this indicates the whole nation wants a good election. And you will see that, we hope.