Tarique Rahman’s First Six Months: Achievement or Failure?

Six months is not long enough to transform a country. But it is long enough for people to start asking whether the promises made during the election are beginning to show results on the ground.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his government took office at a difficult moment.

They inherited an economy under pressure, high living costs, concerns over law and order, institutional weaknesses and a political atmosphere still marked by deep divisions.

The question now is not simply whether the government has done something. It clearly has.

The more important question is whether those initiatives have made a real difference in the daily lives of ordinary Bangladeshis. The answer, at this stage, remains mixed.

Establishing a New Footing
One of the government’s first and most visible tasks has been to restore a sense of political and administrative normalcy.

The return of an elected government has created a different atmosphere.

Ministries and state institutions are once again functioning under a clear electoral mandate.

Beyond the formal transfer of power, the Prime Minister has tried to project a different style of leadership.

He has reduced the size of his motorcade, discontinued the practice of displaying his photograph in government offices, schools and courts, and chosen to work more regularly from the Secretariat.

He uses a personal vehicle and has publicly taken steps to limit some of the traditional privileges associated with high office.

These may appear symbolic, but in a political culture long associated with distance and formality, symbols matter.

The government has also moved on several election commitments. The Family Card programme was launched in March at Korail slum in Dhaka, aimed at providing targeted support to low-income households.

The Farmer Card followed in April. Agricultural loans of up to Tk 10,000 were waived, offering relief to a large number of farmers. Canal re-excavation work and tree plantation drives have also begun.

These are meaningful starts. Yet Bangladesh has seen many well-intentioned schemes before.

The real test will be whether the benefits reach the intended people without political interference, leakage or unnecessary bureaucracy.

Electricity Turns Political
Among the issues that affect ordinary people most directly is the electricity and energy situation.

Power shortages disrupt household life and raise costs for businesses. Tarique Rahman has turned the issue into a political challenge.

Responding to opposition claims that the problem could be solved within three months, the Prime Minister said he would give them six months. If they could fix it, he would accept their demands. It was a bold statement.

On one level, it projected confidence. On another, it shifted the debate from accusations to the practical question of who can actually deliver reliable power.

For the public, the political exchange is secondary. What matters is whether the lights stay on.

If supply improves in the coming months, the challenge may be remembered as evidence of confidence. If the crisis continues, the same words could become a political liability.

The Economy Remains the Core Test
The economy will ultimately shape the public’s judgement of this government more than almost anything else.

The administration inherited high inflation, pressure on the banking sector, weak investment confidence and a difficult fiscal position.

These problems cannot be resolved overnight, and the government deserves some time to implement its policies.

Yet public expectations are real and immediate. Families want relief from high food prices.

Young people want jobs. Businesses want predictable policies, reliable energy and easier access to finance. Investors want to believe Bangladesh remains a stable place to operate.

So far, the government has not produced a decisive breakthrough. Stabilisation is necessary, but it will not be enough.

Stronger growth, more employment and a noticeable improvement in household purchasing power will eventually be required.

Law, Order and Corruption
The Prime Minister has instructed law-enforcement agencies to act against criminals regardless of political identity.

The principle is important in a country where allegations of selective enforcement have long been a concern. The public, however, will judge by results.

Impartial action against wrongdoers from any side would mark a genuine change in political culture. Selective enforcement would make official statements ring hollow.

The same applies to corruption. Promises of accountability are popular because corruption touches almost every level of public life.

But credibility will depend on whether the government is willing to investigate and prosecute people close to power with the same seriousness it applies to others.

Only then will ordinary citizens begin to believe that influence no longer provides protection.

A Polarised Landscape and Foreign Policy
The government is operating in a highly polarised environment.

The future role of the Awami League, the legal proceedings involving Sheikh Hasina and questions surrounding her possible return remain sensitive.

Accountability where there is evidence is necessary. At the same time, the process must be seen as fair and consistent if public trust is to grow.

Political change should not simply replace one system of influence with another. The larger task is to strengthen institutions that can survive changes of government.

Relations with India present a parallel challenge. Bangladesh has clear economic, geographical and security interests in maintaining a workable relationship.

The Hasina issue has added tension, yet trade, border management, water-sharing, energy and regional connectivity cannot be set aside.

Firmness where national interests require it will need to be balanced with pragmatism where cooperation is necessary.

A Balanced Assessment
After six months, the fairest conclusion is that Tarique Rahman’s government has made a start but has not yet produced enough concrete results to claim clear success.

There is political stability, administrative functioning, the launch of major social programmes and a stated commitment to stronger law enforcement and accountability.

There are also unfinished tasks: inflation remains a concern, employment and investment need stronger momentum, the electricity situation continues to trouble households and businesses, and institutional reform is still a work in progress.

Most of the government’s initiatives have yet to move fully from announcement to measurable outcome.

A government should not be judged by the number of programmes it declares, but by whether those programmes change people’s lives.

The next six months will matter more than the first. If electricity supply improves, inflation eases, jobs expand, investment returns and reforms begin to show visible results, this early period could later be remembered as the foundation of a successful administration.

If those results fail to appear, the first six months may increasingly be seen as a period of promises and political challenges rather than lasting change.

Six months is long enough to judge a government’s direction. It is not long enough to write its legacy.