Post-Revolution Governance and Challenges
QuickPost News | March 12, 2025 | Dhaka
A Case of Slow Reforms and Policy Failures
As Bangladesh attempts to recover from political turmoil, comparisons with Sri Lanka’s post-revolution recovery present a striking contrast in governance, economic strategy and political stability. While Sri Lanka swiftly secured international aid and implemented key economic and political reforms, Bangladesh’s slow response, lack of a clear recovery plan, and persistent political instability have deepened its crisis. This editorial provides an in-depth analysis of how both countries handled their post-revolution transitions and why Bangladesh’s interim government under Muhammad Yunus has struggled to achieve stability.
1. Background: Why Did These Revolutions Happen?
| Country | What Led to the Revolution? |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka (2022) | Widespread public protests over severe economic crisis, corruption, food shortages, and fuel price hikes led to the ousting of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. |
| Bangladesh (2024) | Political unrest and mass protests forced the removal of Sheikh Hasina’s government amid allegations of election fraud, suppression of opposition, human rights abuses, and economic mismanagement. |
Despite facing similar mass uprisings, Sri Lanka’s interim government took decisive actions to restore stability, whereas Bangladesh remained trapped in political and economic uncertainty.
2. What Did Each Interim Government Do in the First 6 Months?
A. Economic Measures
| Factor | Sri Lanka’s Government (Led by Ranil Wickremesinghe) | Bangladesh’s Interim Government (Led by Muhammad Yunus) |
| IMF Loan & Financial Aid | Secured a $2.9 billion IMF bailout and renegotiated international loans. | Struggled to obtain international financial aid due to slow policy implementation. |
| Inflation Control | Implemented immediate measures to stabilize the Sri Lankan Rupee and cut unnecessary government spending. | Inflation remained high, causing continued public dissatisfaction. |
| Debt Restructuring | Successfully renegotiated $2.5 billion in debt with Japan. | No significant debt restructuring effortswere made. |
Sri Lanka acted decisively; Bangladesh hesitated. That difference defines their post-crisis trajectories.
Sri Lanka’s Success: Secured a $2.9 billion IMF bailout, restructured $2.5 billion debt, and prioritized tourism revival, injecting fresh capital and stabilizing its economy.
Bangladesh’s Failure: Delayed international aid negotiations, failed to control inflation, and lacked a clear recovery plan, deepening economic uncertainty.
The Lesson? Swift financial action, strategic sectoral focus, and decisive leadership are non-negotiable in economic recovery—a playbook Bangladesh must adopt before it’s too late.
B. Political Reforms & Governance
| Factor | Sri Lanka | Bangladesh |
| Reform of Institutions | Removed corrupt officials while maintaining key government structures. | Formed 11 reform commissions, but most changes remained on paper. |
| Public Order | Quickly restored law and order, preventing prolonged protests. | Frequent protests continued, leading to widespread dissatisfaction. |
| Opposition Politics | Allowed opposition parties to participate in governance discussions. | Many opposition parties remained divided, leading to political instability. |
Crisis governance demands unity and swift reforms. Sri Lanka embraced both; Bangladesh faltered.
Sri Lanka’s Success: Maintained political cohesion, allowing smooth governance and rapid institutional reforms without disrupting key state functions. Stability led to public confidence and investor trust.
Bangladesh’s Failure: Reform efforts stalled amid political fragmentation. A divided opposition delayed decision-making, preventing effective governance and worsening instability.
The Takeaway? Political stability is the backbone of recovery. Without unity and decisive reform, economic aid and policy shifts become meaningless—a lesson Bangladesh must urgently heed.
C. Human Rights & Freedom
| Factor | Sri Lanka | Bangladesh |
| Political Prisoners | Released most opposition leaders. | Released some prisoners but continued political restrictions. |
| Freedom of Speech | Restored press freedom and reduced media restrictions. | Media suppression continued, causing public mistrust. |
| Police & Security Forces | Controlled security forces to prevent abuse of power. | Security forces clashed with protesters, leading to further unrest. |
Political openness fosters stability; suppression breeds unrest. Sri Lanka understood this, Bangladesh did not.
Sri Lanka’s Success: Allowed opposition to operate freely, fostering dialogue over division. Restored press freedom, ensuring transparency and public trust in governance.
Bangladesh’s Failure: Continued media restrictions and political suppression, fueling distrust and unrest. Security forces clamped down on protests, escalating public anger rather than diffusing tensions.
The Lesson? Freedom sustains stability. Bangladesh must embrace political openness and press independence—or risk deeper unrest and prolonged crisis.
3. Why Did Bangladesh’s Interim Government Fail?
| Key Issue | Sri Lanka’s Solution | Bangladesh’s Mistake |
| Economic Recovery | Secured IMF aid quickly and managed inflation. | Failed to secure financial aid, worsening the crisis. |
| Political Stability | Allowed opposition participation. | Opposition parties remained divided. |
| Public Order | Maintained peace after protests ended. | Frequent unrest due to poor economic decisions. |
| Freedom & Human Rights | Released political prisoners & restored press freedom. | Continued media suppression & political restrictions. |
| Public Welfare | Stabilized food supply, tourism, and jobs. | Did not focus on jobs & food security. |
Main Hypothesis:
Crisis demands swift action, unity, and public trust. Bangladesh’s interim government lacked all three.
Slow Decision-Making: Hesitation in securing financial aid and implementing reforms worsened economic instability.
Lack of Political Unity: A divided opposition and emerging new political factions weakened governance, creating infighting instead of progress.
Continued Restrictions: Media suppression and crackdown on opposition eroded public trust, fueling further unrest.
Why Sri Lanka Succeeded: Acted decisively, maintained political cohesion, and focused on public welfare over political partiality.
The Takeaway? Economic recovery is impossible without political stability and public confidence. Bangladesh must prioritize unity, transparency, and decisive governance before its crisis deepens further.
4. Lessons for Bangladesh
History has shown that recovery depends on decisive action, political inclusivity, and public trust. Bangladesh’s interim government failed in these areas, deepening the crisis. To break this cycle, any future interim administration must:
✔ Act swiftly on economic recovery, secure international aid, and control inflation before public frustration escalates.
✔ Foster political unity, engaging all parties to ensure stability over division.
✔ Guarantee freedom of speech and opposition participation, restoring public confidence in governance.
✔ Prioritize public welfare, strengthening healthcare, education, and food security to ease the burden on citizens.
Without these fundamental changes, Bangladesh risks repeating the same mistakes, prolonging instability and economic hardship. The choice is clear—decisive governance or continued turmoil.
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