Post-Interim Government: Life After Office for Advisors

The curtains are drawing to a close on Bangladesh’s interim administration. Following the student-led mass uprising on 5 August 2024, which led to the fall of the Awami League regime, an interim government headed by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus assumed office on 8 August. Now, eighteen months later, the 13th National Parliamentary Election and a referendum to implement the "July National Charter" are set to take place tomorrow, Thursday.

While the official tenure ends once the newly elected government is sworn in, a poignant atmosphere of farewell has permeated the corridors of power since Tuesday. As the nation observes a public holiday on the eve of the election, the members of the advisory council are preparing to transition back to their civilian lives.

The Return to Academia and Law

For many advisors, the conclusion of their state duties marks a return to the lecture halls and research labs. Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, the Finance Advisor and former Governor of the central bank, plans to rejoin BRAC University. Having already been contacted by the university authorities, he intends to take a brief period of rest before resuming his academic role in March.

Similarly, Professor Asif Nazrul, the Law Advisor, expressed an eager yearning for his "dear old life" as a teacher at Dhaka University. Beyond the classroom, he plans to dedicate his time to fundamental research and writing. Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the Advisor for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, will return to her lifelong mission at the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), continuing her advocacy for ecological justice.

Future Plans of the Interim Advisory Council

Literature, Media, and Social Activism

Writing remains a common thread for the departing officials. Foreign Advisor Md. Touhid Hossain and Food Advisor Ali Imam Majumder—the latter a former cabinet secretary—both intend to return to their roots as columnists and social commentators.

Sharmin S. Murshid, the Social Welfare Advisor, plans to document her unique experiences within the interim administration. She also intends to rejoin the NGO 'Brotee' and work closely with women who were instrumental in the July uprising. Meanwhile, Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan has more immediate spiritual plans. With the holy month of Ramadan approaching, he intends to focus on prayer and devotion before returning to his library.

Final Acts of Governance

Despite the imminent transition, the final hours have remained busy. Professor Muhammad Yunus spent Wednesday meeting with international election observers, including a seven-member team from ANFREL. He is scheduled to cast his vote tomorrow at the Gulshan Model School and College centre.

From returning government-pooled vehicles to signing critical files for the last time, the advisors are clearing their desks with a sense of duty. While some, like Sharmin S. Murshid, admit that "not everything could be finished," there is a collective sense that the groundwork for a democratic transition has finally been laid.