“People Still See Government as the Enemy,” Says Yunus — Public Trust at Stake as Bangladesh Pushes Reform

June 16, 2025 | Dhaka — The Voice NewsInterim leader Dr. Muhammad Yunus has admitted that public trust in government remains deeply fractured, stating bluntly in a recent interview, “People still see government as the enemy.” His remarks come as Bangladesh undergoes sweeping political and institutional reforms in the wake of the collapse of the Awami League-led administration last year.The statement, seen by many as a rare moment of political honesty, reflects the enormity of the task faced by the interim government: to not only hold early elections, but to dismantle what Yunus called “a toxic legacy of authoritarian governance, state corruption, and systemic injustice.”🚨 A Crisis of LegitimacyPublic disillusionment with state institutions has been growing for over a decade, fueled by allegations of election rigging, elite impunity, rampant bank fraud, and a judiciary seen as politicized.“We inherited a hollowed-out government,” Yunus said. “Bureaucracy is distrusted. The courts are distrusted. Even NGOs have lost moral authority. Restoring legitimacy is our first duty.”🔍 Anti-Corruption and Transparency ReformsSince taking office in August 2024, the interim administration has rolled out an ambitious reform agenda focused on: • Cracking Down on High-Level Corruption: Several former cabinet members and politically connected business tycoons are under investigation for illicit enrichment and state fund embezzlement. • Banking Sector Cleanup: The Bangladesh Bank has launched audits of defaulted loans and closed channels for politically protected lending. A forensic review of 14 private banks is underway. • Microfinance Sector Review: Given Yunus’s own legacy in this space, his administration has initiated a regulatory overhaul of microfinance practices to protect borrowers from predatory interest rates and exploitative loan cycles. • Digital Revenue & Procurement Systems: Government contracting is being shifted to a blockchain-based public procurement system to minimize kickbacks and middlemen.💬 Public Reaction: Cautious OptimismWhile the reform rhetoric has earned praise from international donors and institutions like the IMF and World Bank, domestic sentiment remains mixed.“There’s real fear these reforms won’t go deep enough,” said Shahana Rahman, a Dhaka-based governance researcher. “The system has been broken for decades. People need more than slogans—they need justice, jobs, and functioning services.”Social media in Bangladesh reflects both hope and suspicion, with hashtags like #NewBangladesh and #TrustButVerify trending as citizens debate whether the interim government can truly deliver structural change.🗳️ Trust Before ElectionsWith general elections tentatively scheduled for April 2026—but possibly being moved forward to February—restoring public faith is seen as vital to ensuring a credible electoral process.“The election will mean nothing if people believe it’s the same corrupt actors under new labels,” Yunus warned. “That’s why our mission is not just transition—it is transformation.”⸻Bottom Line:Dr. Muhammad Yunus has thrown down the gauntlet, acknowledging a painful truth: the people still see their government as a threat, not a servant. Whether his interim administration can reverse that perception will determine not just the fate of the next election—but the long-term future of democracy in Bangladesh.