Staff Reporter :
Debapriya Bhattacharya, head of the White Paper Preparation Committee on the economy, attributed low-quality education and unemployment as key factors behind the fall of the authoritarian Awami League regime.
He made these remarks during the Bay of Bengal Conversation, organised by the Centre for Governance Studies at a city hotel on Monday.
Debapriya, also a Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue, stated, “Authoritarian governments sustain themselves on three pillars: lies, fear, and an illusion of development.
The lies often begin with distorted histories and glorified biographies of their leaders.”
He added, “Such regimes foster fear among opposition parties and critical thinkers, creating an environment where individuals risk being detained arbitrarily, as seen with incidents at the Aynaghar.
In the name of development, they neglect vital sectors such as education and healthcare.”
Commenting on the Awami League’s development initiatives, Debapriya remarked, “While infrastructure projects were undertaken, they came at a significant financial burden to the people. Conversely, investment in quality education, healthcare, and job creation remained minimal.”
He criticised the education system for failing to produce employable graduates and noted that job opportunities were scarce, with many positions dominated by party loyalists.
He highlighted the demand for public sector jobs without a quota system as a reflection of public dissatisfaction.
Addressing the audience, Debapriya underscored the importance of prioritising investments in education, healthcare, human development, and employment generation to ensure sustainable progress.