Standing on a blood-soaked land as we witness the sun of a new dawn, that light awakens a thirst not just for so-called development, but for pure integrity. History bears witness that the people of this country have repeatedly taken to the streets—not merely to survive, but to ensure an environment where they can live with dignity and their heads held high. Today, the singular plea of millions to the new government is for a Bangladesh where the word “corruption” remains confined to the pages of a dictionary, with no existence in reality.
When a state is infested by the termites of corruption, it may retain an outward luster, but the core becomes hollow. Brain drain occurs, the qualified are deprived, and the dominance of the incompetent suffocates the common people. Over the past few decades, we have seen how the clutches of corruption have swallowed our golden dreams. This poisonous web has spread through every vein of our society. We desire a homeland where bribes are not required to move a file in a government office and where money does not replace merit in recruitment exams. We want an end to nepotism, where a qualified candidate gets the job instead of an incompetent relative.
Breaking the market syndicates to relieve the suffering of the common man is now the demand of the hour. From business licenses to general trade licenses, the culture of illegal transactions at every step must be uprooted. We want a transparent tender process where quality of work, not muscle power or political identity, is paramount. To prevent a repeat of the “festival” of looting the banking sector and laundering thousands of crores abroad, a rigorous legal framework is essential.
When a country falls into the grasp of corruption, roads or bridges built with taxpayers’ money collapse within days. Using low-quality materials and risking public lives is a grave crime. The expectation from the new government is to ensure 100% transparency and accountability in every development project. Those who fleece the public by creating artificial crises through black marketing and hoarding must be brought to strict justice.
We seek a “clean-up drive” in the education sector where stigmas like question paper leaks or admission trades no longer exist. In healthcare, the dominance of middlemen must end to ensure the public’s right to free or affordable treatment. A culture of impunity is what primarily encourages corruption; when an influential person escapes consequences by abusing power, honest citizens lose hope. The expectation from the new government is to establish the rule of law such that an offender is identified only as a criminal, ensuring no one finds sanctuary for injustice under the shadow of power.
If automation and digital transparency are ensured in every government department, the opportunity for corruption will significantly decrease. Public trust in the state will return only when people see they can access services without intermediaries. Reducing bureaucratic complexity and increasing administrative transparency to create an investment-friendly environment is now urgent.
Planting the seeds of honesty in our education system is a timely necessity. Attaining big degrees is meaningless if that education lacks morality. If the new government emphasizes character building and awareness of the evils of corruption in the curriculum, the next generation will grow up with a healthy mindset. We want a Bangladesh where a young entrepreneur succeeds solely on merit and hard work, without having to make “under-the-table” payments.
If every wing, from the police administration to the judiciary, is kept free from political influence, the common man’s final sanctuary will remain safe. Ending harassment at land offices and keeping people free from the fear of ancestral property grabbing should be a primary responsibility of the government. A country does not change overnight, but if the commitment to change is firm, the impossible can be made possible.
We want a society where government employees consider themselves servants of the people, not their masters. If bribery stops, commodity prices will stabilize, and the quality of life for the common man will improve. We do not want a Bangladesh for any specific party or group; we want a Bangladesh for its common people. Every ministry and local government institution should have effective monitoring and grievance redressal systems. The government must welcome constructive criticism from the media and civil society to increase accountability. Environmental corruption—such as grabbing rivers or deforestation—must also be suppressed with an iron hand.
In conclusion, building a corruption-free Bangladesh is not the responsibility of the government alone; it is a social movement. However, the state must lead that movement. The massive expectations people have for the new government are rooted in integrity. People now want peace, transparency, and a discrimination-free society. If honesty is ensured at every level, this Bangladesh will be a unique example to the world. We believe that with political will and by walking alongside the common people, this goal is not difficult to achieve. May the Bangladesh of the future be empowered by the strength of its youth and remain an ideal land—free from the stains of financial and moral corruption—where the sweat of the people is valued and merit is duly honored.
