Bangladesh is a country forged through people's power—a nation born of the Liberation War in 1971 that promised justice, dignity, and democracy. Yet five decades later, the dream remains elusive. It is not due to a lack of historic opportunities. Rather, it is the repeated failure of leadership to translate mass uprisings into lasting, people-centered reforms.
From the aftermath of liberation to the fall of military dictatorship in the early 1990s, and now the recent July Uprising, each turning point has brought renewed hope—only to be squandered. The spirit of these moments is betrayed time and again by those who rise in their name, only to repeat the same cycles of greed, control, and exclusion.
1971: A war for the people, a state for the politicians
The Liberation War was a grassroots movement to liberate not just land, but also minds—from repression, inequality, and exploitation. In its wake, Bangladesh had a rare chance to build a just and inclusive society.
But instead of decentralising power, post-liberation leaders centralised it. Dissent was silenced, the bureaucracy politicised, and public institutions co-opted. The dream of democratic governance was reduced to slogans, while ruling elites used the emotions of 1971 to cement family dynasties and enrich loyalists. The state, meant to be a public trust, began to resemble private property.
1990s: Democracy without democratic values
The ousting of General Ershad in the early 1990s and the return to electoral democracy was another golden chance. But instead of institutional reform and citizen empowerment, we witnessed the rise of vindictive dynastic politics
The two dominant parties became obsessed with electoral victory rather than public service. There was no real push to reform the judiciary, decentralise power, or uphold merit. Cults of personality replaced democratic debate. And tragically, our political class increasingly sought legitimacy not from the people, but from foreign actors, donors, and diplomatic alliances.
The July Uprising: A new spark or a familiar disappointment?
In July 2024, the streets once again filled with the voices of disillusioned citizens—particularly youth—who demanded change. The July Uprising briefly rekindled national hope. Protesters spoke boldly of justice, accountability, and a politics that serves the people.
But one year later, that hope is dimming.
Some of the same youth leaders who energised the movement are now being accused of extortion, intimidation, and backdoor dealings. In some areas, July activists have become enforcers rather than reformers—using their newfound visibility not to serve the people, but to carve out their own spheres of influence.
The unity that once defined the uprising is fracturing. Former comrades are now at odds—sometimes even enemies. What was once a collective voice for justice is being drowned in internal disputes, personal ambition, and the lure of easy power. We are watching the early signs of a tragedy we've seen before.
Is this how the July Uprising will be remembered? As yet another wasted opportunity—like the aftermath of 1971, or the democratic transition of the 1990s?
Why we keep failing
Bangladesh's repeated failure to capitalise on historic openings stems from a set of entrenched patterns: Elites with low integrity treat public office as a business opportunity; slogans without substance dominate political discourse; dependence on foreign legitimacy undermines public trust; political parties lack internal democracy, making leaders unaccountable; dynastic entitlement replaces merit and accountability; and civil society and dissent are treated as threats, not partners in nation-building.
The cost of betrayal
Public services remain hollowed out. Schools produce obedience, not critical thinking. Hospitals fail those without wealth. Corruption infects every layer of governance.
Young Bangladeshis, once hopeful, are either leaving or giving up on civic life. Cynicism is setting in like concrete. And the founding dream of 1971? It's reduced to state rituals and party propaganda.
What must change
For the July Uprising—or any future movement—to avoid the fate of past failures, we need a political reset grounded in: transparency and accountability across all levels of leadership; democratic renewal inside political parties and public institutions; trust in citizens, not foreign validation; merit-based leadership, not inherited power; collaboration over control, and truth over propaganda
Bangladesh does not lack brave people or brilliant minds. It lacks leaders willing to put public service above personal gain.
So the question remains: Will the July Uprising become another chapter in Bangladesh's long history of betrayed hopes? Or will it defy the past and chart a new path for the future?
The answer depends on what we, as a people, demand next.
The writer is the US bureau chief of Dhaka Stream and former Fulbright Hubert H Humphrey Fellow, University of Maryland
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