The amount of bad loans in the banking sector has been increasing rapidly in recent years, as reflected in data from Bangladesh Bank (BB), according to the recently released White Paper. In June 2021, BB data showed the defaulted loan rate was 7.9 percent. By the end of June this year, it had exceeded 12 percent. Around 88 percent of these defaulted loans are categorised as bad quality loans, according to the report. The severity of the issue has been described as the 'black hole' of the banking sector, with a depth three times greater than what is visibly apparent. The central bank’s statement at the end of last June revealed defaulted loans amounting to Tk211,391 crore. This figure surged to over Tk288,000 crore by September. Domestic economists and international organisations have consistently questioned the accuracy of the defaulted loan data presented by the central bank. Following an independent assessment of banks’ assets by a committee comprising domestic and international chartered accountants, the defaulted loan ratio could rise to 25 percent, according to experts. Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur told UNB that the current defaulted loans ratio of 12.50 percent may double after the assets evaluation. “We have to accept the reality, which was hidden earlier. But there is no solution to the problems by hiding the information of banks’ bad loans,” he said. The White Paper formally released on December 2, shows that in the country’s bad debt data, Tk272,856 crore were re-disbursed, Tk75,389 crore were written off, Tk39,209 crore were in special mention accounts, and Tk76,185 crore were tied up in High Court cases. These loans have also become defaulted. Altogether, the actual default amount totals Tk675,000 crore. This staggering figure is equivalent to the construction cost of 13 metro rail projects or 22 Padma bridges. Crony capitalism created an undemocratic attitude: Rehman Sobhan Banks are required to maintain a 100 percent provision against bad loans. However, at the end of June, banks had kept only Tk89,355 crore in provisions, falling significantly short of the required Tk176,889 crore. Approximately 55 percent of the defaulted loans originate from the manufacturing sector. The dire situation in the banking sector has been attributed to the actions of senior central bank officials and influential external actors. Their combined influence has been particularly evident from 2015 to 2024. The white paper highlights that during this period, amendments to the Bank Company Act, influenced by economic and political factors, contributed to the sector’s decline. In 2023, the term for entrepreneur directors was increased to 12 years, up from 9 years in a 2018 amendment. The number of directors from a single family was reduced to three in 2023, after being increased to four earlier. Workshop on financial inclusion, rural transformation towards achieving SDGs begins Besides, a critical provision was removed: previously, if one company in a group defaulted, loans from others in the group would also be considered defaulted. This removal, the report notes, has further weakened the banking sector.  

Bangladesh’s banking sector began to deteriorate in 2010 when the government introduced a single-digit 9 percent interest rate for lending, according to a White Paper. Titled “White Paper on the State of the Bangladesh Economy”, the report was unveiled at a press conference on Monday. As of last June, the total assets of banks in the financial sector stood at Tk 25.46 lakh crore, representing 47 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). Bank deposits amounted to Tk 18.41 lakh crore, or 34 percent of GDP. White Paper prepared through inclusive, consultative process: Debapriya Between 2001 and 2019, GDP growth doubled, underlining the critical importance of private sector lending. However, the banking sector, which had been gradually strengthening, began to spiral out of control primarily after 2010. The report attributes this decline to temporary and hasty policy changes by regulatory agencies and the government, which resulted in misguided lending practices. Significant policy shifts included fixing the market-based interest rate at 9 percent, introducing the smart rate system, providing collateral-free loans during the Covid-19 pandemic, and adopting the crawling peg system in the foreign exchange rate regime. In April 2020, following discussions with private bank entrepreneurs, the then Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal announced the 9 percent interest rate cap on bank loans. At that time, interest rates in the banking sector had reached as high as 22 percent. Excess capacity payments to exceed Tk 36,000 cr in 15 years: White Paper After entering into a loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) early last year amidst a financial crisis, Bangladesh Bank gradually began increasing interest rates. The White Paper reveals that the fixed rate was, in effect, market-based only on paper. It also highlights a turning point in governance, when the Awami League government was ousted during the student-led public uprising on August 5, paving the way for an interim administration. Following the change in government, the leadership of financial regulatory agencies was overhauled. The implementation of IMF conditions and the elimination of previous policies commenced. To address the poor state of the financial sector, the central bank has raised its policy rate by 525 basis points since May 2022. White Paper: Debapriya focuses on 2-year economic plan The current policy rate stands at 10 percent, which is expected to help control inflation. The average lending rate in the banking sector is now around 12 percent, with some cases reaching 14 percent. Despite the introduction of a single-digit interest rate, the report reveals that most loans issued after 2010 have turned into defaults. The ratio of defaulted loans currently stands at 12.5 percent, amounting to Tk 2.85 lakh crore.

Renowned economist Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya on Monday said that the White Paper has been prepared through an inclusive and consultative process, departing from the conventional research methodology. Though the draft report has been revealed, but the printed version of the report would be available within the next one and a half month after some editing, said Dr Debapriya at a press briefing held at the NEC Auditorium of the Planning Commission, marking the release of the White Paper on the state of the economy under the previous government. Dr Debapriya, a distinguished fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and leader of the White Paper preparation committee, alleged that over the past 15 years, the country has transitioned from crony capitalism to kleptocracy. He attributed this shift to three successive national elections that undermined fundamental democratic rights and eroded accountability mechanisms. White Paper: Debapriya focuses on 2-year economic plan Highlighting the key features of the report and the government's potential future actions, the eminent economist urged the government to make a public statement on its various operations and initiatives across different sectors. Dr Debapriya stressed the importance of the next six months, recommending that the government present a clear plan for economic management ahead of the upcoming national budget. The distinguished economist proposed outlining anticipated inflation levels, foreign currency reserves, and interest rates amidst ongoing reforms in various sectors. Debapriya also called for a mid-term strategy focusing on investment, employment generation, education, healthcare and social safety nets. Commending the interim government’s decision to withhold the 8th Five-Year Plan, Dr Debapriya described the proposed projects as unrealistic and impractical, necessitating an authentic evaluation. Corruption ravages Bangladesh’s key sectors, reveals White Paper He also urged the government to provide a comprehensive account of its activities over the past four months, a detailed working plan for the next six months, and a two-year operational outline. Addressing Bangladesh’s progress towards LDC graduation, Dr Debapriya noted that the country meets all the necessary criteria and sees no justification for delaying the process, scheduled for 2026. He encouraged stakeholders to abandon the mindset of relying on preferential market access indefinitely. Bangladesh’s capacity, qualifications, and size make it unsuitable for remaining within the LDC category, he said. When questioned about the sectors most affected by corruption over the past 15 years, Dr Debapriya ranked the banking sector as the most impacted, followed by infrastructure, energy and power, and ICT. Prof Dr Mustafizur Rahman, another distinguished CPD fellow, warned that future generations would bear the consequences of widespread corruption, particularly in mega projects. Dr Zahid Hussain, former lead economist of the World Bank, cautioned that Bangladesh is facing the challenges of a middle-income trap. He suggested macroeconomic stability, policy reforms, and institutional accountability as pathways to overcome these hurdles. Chief Adviser Yunus hopeful SAARC can give dividends to people of the region if revitalised Prof Dr Selim Raihan of Dhaka University’s Department of Economics underlined the need for sustained reforms in critical sectors to support economic recovery and boost private sector investment. He also criticised the last three general elections as flawed, arguing that they undermined democratic institutions.

Total excess capacity payments are projected to exceed Tk 36,000 crore over the past 15 years, assuming the underutilisation of power plants (gas, coal), according to the White Paper on the State of Bangladesh Economy. The White Paper Committee, led by economist Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, presented its findings at a press conference in the NEC conference room in the capital on Monday after submitting the report to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at his Tejgaon office on Sunday. The report indicated that total capacity/rental payments to the private sector from 2010-11 to 2023-24 amounted to approximately Tk 115,000 crore. ‘Committee preparing White Paper will highlight corruption issues, not catch culprits’: Dr. Debapriya The overall plant factor (the percentage of full capacity utilised) of the entire system has ranged between 42% and 46% over the last five years, indicating a highly inefficient system. A 65% plant factor is achievable by minimising maintenance, reducing standby capacity, and ensuring the full supply of fuel, the report said. Six HSD-based IPP plants, with a total capacity of 1000 MW, were awarded for a 5-year period in 2018, with reference capacity payments nearing $20/kW-month. But, none of these plants operated beyond 10% of their capacity on average throughout the contract period, resulting in 90% of the capacity payments being made for 1000 MW without any electricity production, the report highlighted. Tk trillions embezzled from stock market alone: White Paper These plants were primarily used in extreme situations that could have been managed by HFO plants. The report further criticised the political considerations and underhand dealings involved in awarding these power plants, which led to crony capitalism. From 2014-15, HSD and HFO power plants awarded under the Special Provision Act have received Tk 15,551 crore and Tk 9,100 crore, respectively, in capacity payments. The average plant factors of HSD and HFO plants in the last five years were only 32% and 9.22%, respectively. If a minimum plant factor of 65% had been achieved, the oil-based power plants under the Special Provision Act would have received an additional Tk 10,000 crore in capacity payments. The rental plants awarded in 2010-11 earned profits as high as 35% against a standard 15%, yielding a windfall of no less than Tk 10,000 crore. Capacity and Energy Contracts Capacity contracts are sometimes compared to monthly data packages, as opposed to the "pay-as-you-use" option in an energy contract. Irrespective of total usage, a guaranteed payment is assured through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to ensure that full capacity is always available. Corruption ravages Bangladesh’s key sectors, reveals White Paper Taking advantage of such guaranteed payments, the capacity market has been flooded with oversupply due to unprecedented corruption. The average annual plant factor or capacity utilisation for oil-based rental plants has been below 50%. These plants, typically meant for peaking power supply, have been used extensively as underutilised baseload plants, leading to expensive operations and an increase in the cost of generation, making a burden for the exchequer.

The White Paper on Bangladesh's economy has revealed that trillions of takas were embezzled from the stock market through fraud, manipulation and deceit, particularly in placement shares and IPO processes. The committee, led by economist Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, presented the findings at a press conference in the NEC conference room in the capital on Sunday. Excessive government tutelage held back market development and constrained responsible institutions from carrying out their mandates. This, combined with strong vested interest, resulted in an entrenched status quo of gambling and swindling, said the report. Laws, rules, and regulations were deliberately deficient in their implementation. Weak and substandard companies came into the market through IPOs.205. A major manipulation network involving influential entrepreneurs, issue managers, auditors, and a certain class of investors emerged. In many cases, officials of the regulatory body themselves played a role as accomplices by exploiting legal loopholes or providing concessions. Equity market growth is dragged by poor market infrastructure and unwieldy processing cycle for initial public offerings (IPOs). Current market systems are not supportive of a well-functioning market. White Paper: Mega project costs surged by 70% due to graft during pvs rule IPO valuations give the sponsors an upper hand over the general investors in the secondary market. Settlement delays raise the investors’ interest rate and price fluctuation risks. Liquidity is affected by the lengthy IPO cycle. Absence of central counterparty clearing, interoperable information technology infrastructure and adequate trading platforms constrain brokers and clearing houses from transparent market making and trading. Stunted investor confidence: Public perception of the stock market is impaired by the memories of manipulators facing no legal action based on the reports produced by the investigating committees. The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) a study 206of 71 businessmen in 2023 found 50 per cent of businessmen believe the prevalence of suspicious trading in the secondary market, 53.1 percent thought BSEC’s regulatory enforcement is weak, 50 per cent found financial reporting anomalous, and 56.3 percent believed poor companies enter the capital market through initial public offerings (IPOs). The same issues topped the list in 2022. Market rigging is endemic. Several powerful investors and institutions artificially inflate the share prices through a series of trades, mostly among themselves, violating securities laws.203 They execute circular trades in targeted company shares, where some investors sell shares and others, related to them, buy shares in a series of trades to create the appearance of active trading. Corruption ravages Bangladesh’s key sectors, reveals White Paper The book-building process is manipulated to the extent that it no longer effectively determines the true valuation of a company's shares. Anomalies in IPO valuations (mostly underpricing) give the sponsors an upper hand over the general investors in the secondary market. Some big-ticket mutual funds were taken over by vested interests. Specifically, allegations of embezzlement of unit holders' funds were made against the top two institutions in the closed- end mutual fund sector. BSEC looked the other way. The Khairul Commission extended the duration of all closed-end mutual funds by an additional ten years. Investor confidence plummeted. The increase in the index prompted regulations to raise margin loan ratios, fueling the stock market surge. The BSEC often maintained the index, disregarding rising stock prices, with regulatory action only taking place when prices began to fall. The controversial floor price system damaged the market’s international reputation, halting trading in strong companies while encouraging market manipulation due to low fines relative to potential profits. After the Awami League government assumed power in 2009, the stock market surged within a year and a half before crashing suddenly in January 2011. The main Dhaka index fell by about half from its December 2010 all-time high. The loss as of October 2012 was equivalent to 22% of GDP. It wiped out $27 billion in market capitalisation triggering a wave of social discontent.202 Some investors even committed suicide. $16bn siphoned off annually during Hasina's regime: White Paper The ensuing liquidity crunch heightened solvency risks. Back in 1996, as in 2010, the index’s rise and decline resulted from collusive behaviour between institutional investors, high-net worth investors and brokerage firms, which together, drove the majority of the volume of shares traded. Retail investors suffered. The government formed an investigation committee. Their probe flagged limited enforcement of regulation by the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) and commercial banks’ excessive investment in stock markets. The committee, led by a veteran banker Ibrahim Khaled, highlighted issues such as placement trading, irregularities in the IPO process, suspicious transactions under omnibus accounts, and the roles of influential businessmen, brokers, and market players. The report named companies whose share prices surged abnormally (300 to 900 per cent) in 2009 and 2010.

Economist Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, head of the White Paper Committee, has emphasised the need for a two-year medium-term economic plan to strengthen global confidence. Titled “White Paper on the State of the Bangladesh Economy” was released at a press conference held at the NEC conference room on Monday. Dr Debapriya underlined the urgency of rebuilding international confidence through transparency and actionable reforms. Election Commission’s maiden meeting in progress “The next six months are critical,” he cautioned, highlighting the necessity of establishing a clear roadmap ahead of the formulation of the next national budget. “This is a pivotal moment to translate intentions into tangible progress,” he added. Establishing a Data Commission Dr Debapriya proposed forming a data commission to systematically evaluate and manage the country's statistical information. Until such a commission is established, he suggested relying on existing data, which indicates that Bangladesh meets all criteria for LDC graduation. "If we fail to graduate from the LDC category next year, it may spark narratives questioning the nation’s progress. Critics could argue that a strong foundation was left behind, only for the country to falter within two years," he said, stressing that there is no valid reason for Bangladesh to remain in the LDC group. While the recommendations offer a comprehensive reform blueprint,  Debapriya expressed cautious optimism about their implementation. “Only time will tell if the government will adopt our suggestions,” he remarked, reflecting on the uncertain trajectory of the proposed measures. Corruption ravages Bangladesh’s key sectors, reveals White Paper Guide for Reform The white paper, grounded in extensive research and collaboration, serves as both a critique and a roadmap. It examines systemic issues like corruption, inefficiencies, and institutional weaknesses, aiming to enhance transparency, accountability, and sustainable development in Bangladesh. “This document is not just a critique but a guide. It seeks to instil confidence among citizens and international partners. Now is the time for the government to move beyond promises and deliver concrete reforms,” Debapriya added.

Corruption in large-scale public projects has caused an average cost escalation of 70 per cent and delays of over five years, according to the white paper on the state of the economy. Of the $60 billion invested in ADP and development projects over the past 15 years, $14–24 billion (1.61–2.80 lakh crore BDT) has been lost to political extortion, bribery, and inflated budgets, according to the white paper. The document was submitted to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus by Dr Debopriya Bhattacharya, head of the white paper committee, on Sunday. The paper said that the misappropriation of funds during land acquisitions and the appointment of patronised project directors have further strained resources, undermining potential benefits from infrastructure and social investments. Debapriya unveiled the report to the media at the NEC room in the Planning Commission on Monday. It said that systemic tax evasion, misuse of exemptions, and poorly managed public finances have deprived the state of critical resources, stalling development. Between 2009 and 2023, illicit financial outflows averaged USD 16 billion annually—more than double the combined value of net foreign aid and FDI inflows. Moreover, halving tax exemptions could double education funding and triple health allocations, underscoring the significant fiscal opportunities lost to corruption. Read: Corruption ravages Bangladesh’s key sectors, reveals White Paper The paper mentioned that manipulated domestic production figures and understated demand for key commodities, such as rice, edible oil, and wheat, have destabilised markets. Erratic and politically influenced procurement policies have benefited powerful business groups while exacerbating consumer hardships. The absence of robust regular stock monitoring has only compounded these distortions. In the banking and financial systems, the politically influenced lending practices have deepened the banking sector crisis, with distressed assets (as of June 2024) equivalent to the cost of constructing 14 Dhaka Metro systems or 24 Padma Bridges. Persistent loan defaults and high- profile scams have eroded financial stability and diverted capital away from productive sectors. Over the last decade, BDT 13.4 lakh crore (BDT 1.34 trillion) has been funnelled through hundi transactions by recruiting agencies for visa purchases—an amount four times the cost of constructing Dhaka MRT 06 (Uttara-Motijheel). Syndicates and exploitative recruitment practices have deprived migrant workers of equitable access to employment and diminished remittance contributions to the economy. In the social safety nets, misallocations within social protection programmes have left millions of people vulnerable. As of 2022, 73 per cent of social safety net beneficiaries were classified as non-poor, a significant increase from 66 per cent in 2016. Over 20 million individuals remain just two days of lost work away from falling into poverty, highlighting the systemic inequities exacerbated by corruption. Read more: $16bn siphoned off annually during Hasina's regime: White Paper In the environmental mismanagement sector corruption within climate adaptation funding has exacerbated environmental degradation. Politically patronised mismanagement of climate resources has derailed sustainability initiatives, threatening long-term resilience against climate-induced risks.

An average of 16 billion dollars were illicitly siphoned off from Bangladesh every year during Sheikh Hasina's “corrupt autocracy”, leaving the country in a “state of plunder” when she fled after a popular mass uprising, a White Paper on the state of the economy during her rule said on Sunday.  The committee submitted its report to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at his Tejgaon office, saying they were horrified by the level of corruption, plunder and statistical manipulation conducted by Hasina's regime.  Eminent economist Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, the chair of the committee, led the delegation while submitting the report at a ceremony held at the Chief Adviser’s Tejgaon offiec. On August 21, the interim government decided to publish a white paper highlighting the current economic situation. The areas which were focused in the white paper are public finance management – domestic resources, public expenditure (public investment, ADP, subsidies and debt), financing of budget deficit; inflation and food management - production, public procurement and public  food distribution; external balance - export, import, remittances, FDI, foreign exchange reserves, foreign finance flow and debt; energy and power - demand, supply, pricing, costs and purchase agreements; private investment - access to credit, electricity, connectivity and logistics; employment - in-country and overseas, formal and informal wages, youth employment. White Paper on economy submitted to CA Dr Yunus Chief Adviser Prof Yunus thanked the committee for doing a landmark, saying it should be published once it is finalised and be taught in textbooks in national college and university curricula.  “This is a historic document. It will show us the economy we inherited after the July-August mass uprising. The nation will benefit from this document,” said the Chief Adviser in his short speech before receiving the White Paper.  "Our blood curdles to know how they plundered the economy. The sad part is they looted the economy openly. And most of us could not summon courage to confront it," he said.  Even the multilateral agencies that monitor Bangladesh's economy were also largely silent when this plunder took place, he said.  Head of the committee, Debapriya Bhattacharya, said they worked independently without any interference from the government.   “The problem is deeper than what we have thought,” he said, adding that the 30-chapter and 400-page long White Paper will show how crony capitalism gave birth to the Oligarchs, who controlled the policy framing.  Committee member Mustafizur Rahman said they examined seven large projects out of 29 projects with over Tk 10,000 crore expenditure outlay for each. The total expenses on 29 large projects were $87 billion, or Tk 7,80,000 crore.  BNP delegation to meet Chief Adviser this evening The estimated initial cost of the seven projects examined was Tk 1,14,000 crore. The project costs were later revised to Tk 1,95,000 crore by adding many components, showing an inflated land price, and manipulating the purchase.  The project costs were raised almost 70 percent without analysing the cost benefit, he said.  He also suggested the start of special prosecution to try people who were involved in money laundering. Committee member Prof AK Enamul Haque said in the last 15 years over Tk 700,000 crore was spent on the Annual Development Programme (ADP), and 40 percent of the money was plundered by bureaucrats.  Committee member Mohammad Abu Eusuf revealed that the amount of tax exemption during the past regime was six percent of the total GDP of the country. If it could be reduced to half, the education budget could be doubled and the health budget could be tripled, he said.  M Tamim, another member of the committee, said $30 billion was invested on power generation, and if the kickback was considered 10 percent, the amount would be at least $3 billion.  Interim Govt to pursue crimes against humanity charges at ICC against Hasina regime: Chief Adviser Yunus Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur, Principal Secretary Sirajuddin Sathi and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed were also present.  The report titled “Dissection of a Development Narrative” is expected to be made available for the public soon.  

The committee formed to prepare a “White Paper” on the state of economy submitted its report to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday. Eminent economist Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, the chair of the committee, led the delegation while submitting the report at a ceremony held at the Chief Adviser’s Tejgaon office. On August 21, the interim government decided to publish a white paper highlighting the current economic situation. Interim Govt to pursue crimes against humanity charges at ICC against Hasina regime: Chief Adviser Yunus The areas which were focused in the white paper are public finance management – domestic resources, public expenditure (public investment, ADP, subsidies and debt), financing of budget deficit; inflation and food management - production, public procurement and public  food distribution; external balance - export, import, remittances, FDI, foreign exchange reserves, foreign finance flow and debt; energy and power - demand, supply, pricing, costs and purchase agreements; private investment - access to credit, electricity, connectivity and logistics; employment - in-country and overseas, formal and informal wages, youth employment. The white paper findings will be shared with the media on Monday. US says labor rights in Bangladesh critical to ensuring national economic prosperity at this “unique moment” Committee members, including Prof Mustafizur Rahman, distinguished fellow of CPD; Dr Selim Raihan, Prof of Department of Economics, University of Dhaka;  Dr Zahid Hussain, former lead economist of the World Bank; Ferdaus Ara Begum, CEO of Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD) and Dr M Tamim, Prof of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) were present.

BNP Chairperson's advisory council member Zainul Abedin Farroque on Friday demanded the government publish a white paper on those who fled the country following the student-led mass uprising. “The government must publish a white paper on those who have left the country, particularly explaining how individuals responsible for the deaths of many mothers' sons in Bangladesh managed to escape to India,” he said. Speaking at a rally, he noted that telephonic conversations involving the deposed ruler Sheikh Hasina have gone viral on social media, in which she mentioned her intention to re-enter the country from India suddenly. Democracy is more than elections: Tarique “I would like to say it wouldn’t be that easy for you to enter the country crossing the border as you fled Bangladesh to India. The border is currently tightly secured by the BGB under the government of Dr Muhammad Yunus, not by the Awami League,” the BNP leader asserted. Farroque, a former opposition chief whip in parliament, also alleged that India tried to subdue Bangladesh with the help of Sheikh Hasina. “But the people of Bangladesh have bigger  hearts, and they ousted the Awami League through years of agitations and struggle, as well as through the student-led mass revolution. Democracy must be restored and voting will no longer be held at night. This movement won’t be in vain,” he said. Jatiyatabadi Ganatantrik Party arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, demanding the withdrawal of all the false cases against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and other opposition leaders and activists. Farroque said the current interim government was put in place to make sure the country operates according to the constitution, not under the armed cadres of the Awami League, Chhatra League and Jubo League. Hasina's cohorts spreading rumours to create chaos: BNP He said BNP wants a free, fair and credible election where the country’s people will be able to freely exercise their right to franchise. The BNP leader said the people of the country now expect the Dr Yunus-led government to fulfill their desire by announcing a date for the next national election within a reasonable timeframe. He demanded the immediate withdrawal of 40 lakh cases filed against BNP and opposition party leaders during the previous government's tenure. “The people are now asking why these 40 lakh cases have not yet been withdrawn as per the President's orders.”