Dhaka, Oct. 24 -- Reform, justice, elections - the three pillars of the mandate bestowed on the interim government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus, as it was sworn in on August 8, 2024, on the back of the astonishing triumph of the student-led uprising that had toppled the previous, authoritarian regime of the Awami League just three days earlier.

As it nears the end of its tenure now, with elections slated for the first half of February, it is prudent of course to assess its achievements in light of these three criteria. While the election was always going to be kept for last, as a sort of necessary final act, the other two called for well-thought out planning, regular interventions, and wholesale manoeuvring to position the state such that it...