Alliance toasts two years in power today

The BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) and Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) forged coalition during their movement against the Awami League government and contested the October 1 general election combinedly. The coalition roared into power, bagging over two-thirds seats in parliament.

Though there was a commitment to form a 4-party coalition government, the BJP and the IOJ have not yet been included in the cabinet.

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To highlight the occasion, the prime minister will address the nation over Bangladesh Television and Betar at 7:00pm.

Inclement weather meanwhile forced the government to defer a meeting scheduled for Wednesday to October 19.

The BNP has not yet implemented much of its 32-point election pledges.

The pledge to stamp out crime and corruption topped the election manifesto of the BNP. Despite the anti-crime drive like Operation Clean Heart, the country experienced free fall of law and order. And, on Tuesday, the Transparency International rated Bangladesh as the most corrupt nation for the third successive year.

Commitments to increase parliamentary seats from 300 to 500 and raise in women's seats are yet to be implemented. The BNP was committed to address the women's reserve seat issue in the first session of the Sangsad.

Other important issues like separation of judiciary, autonomy of state-owned radio and television, setting up of human rights and independent anti-corruption commissions, appointment of an ombudsman, repeal of Special Powers Act 1974, revival of zila and upazila parishads, nationalisation of all non-government primary schools, etc have not been executed. In many cases, no initiative was taken at all.

However, several other commitments like establishing liberation affairs and expatriates welfare ministries, special court to try heinous crimes, repeal of Public Safety Act, free education for girls up to HSC level, etc have already been implemented.

The education for girl students has been made free up to bachelors' degree level and huge investment has been made to improve standard of education.

Copying in examinations has dropped down, but leakage of question papers for various exams, including those of public service commission, has tarnished the government achievements in the education sector significantly.