Masud Kamal, journalist and political analyst, has drawn a striking analogy, likening the current government to Sinbad’s ghost, referencing the burdensome character from folklore who perches on a person’s shoulders and refuses to get down.
“To me, this government feels like Sinbad’s ghost,” he remarked during a recent television talk show on a private channel.
“They’ve climbed onto our shoulders, but how do you get them off? That’s the real question. They’ve grown so comfortable sitting there, they simply don’t want to come down.”
Masud Kamal continued his criticism, suggesting that the current leadership is more focused on personal gain than national progress.
“Their goal now is just to stay two extra days in power so they can sign a few more files — and from those signatures, something will come their way. That’s the level of thinking they’ve sunk to.”
Reform or Rhetoric?
Turning to the issue of reform, Kamal questioned the sincerity and effectiveness of the government’s rhetoric.
“There’s a lot of talk about reform — but what exactly is being reformed? What reforms have they managed to show over the past 11 months?”
He emphasised that even if the government proposed reforms, the public would have no basis to believe in their effectiveness:
“How are we supposed to know whether their proposed reforms are good or bad if they haven’t even applied them within their own administration? If they could have demonstrated:
‘Here’s a reform we implemented — it worked well — so you can apply it too for your own benefit’,
then perhaps people would follow. But they’ve failed to do even that.”
According to Kamal, the government continues to operate like its predecessors, with no tangible change in governance style or attitude.
“How can a person who cannot reform himself, his own lifestyle, or his own government, speak credibly about reform at all? The word ‘reform’ doesn’t suit their lips.”
Outsourced Reform & Foreign Advisers
Kamal also expressed concerns about the reliance on foreign consultants and NGOs:
| Concern | Description |
| Foreign Intellectuals | “They are bringing in a handful of rented intellectuals from abroad.” |
| NGO Influence | “NGOs and organisations that had once left the country are now being invited back to advise us.” |
| Citizenship Concerns | “Some of these advisers have even taken foreign citizenship. Are we now to believe that they will reform our country?” |
He further questioned:
“Why should our political parties accept such externally engineered reforms? What justification is there? I simply don’t understand.”
Masud Kamal’s blunt and evocative commentary reflects growing scepticism surrounding the current administration’s motivations and the authenticity of its promised reforms.
