Dhaka, April 11 (NationPress) Rumeen Farhana, an independent lawmaker from Bangladesh, has criticized the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government for appointing individuals linked to the party to significant roles, including the Governor of Bangladesh Bank and Vice Chancellors at various public universities, as reported by local media this week.

During a parliamentary session, Farhana stated, “In every nation, the Central Bank serves as the regulatory body for financial institutions and functions as the government's bank. Observing other South Asian nations, one notices that highly qualified professionals with PhDs from prestigious institutions such as Princeton are appointed to Central Banks. In stark contrast, the new appointee as Bangladesh Bank Governor is a former member of BNP's election committee and the Managing Director of a sweater manufacturing unit.”

“This troubling trend is also seen in the appointments of Vice Chancellors at universities, where individuals with party affiliations and pro-VCs have been chosen. While political engagement is not inherently wrong, it is disheartening that positions are awarded based solely on party loyalty,” the Daily Star of Bangladesh quoted Farhana.

A former BNP member, Farhana ran as an independent candidate in the national elections held on February 12 from the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency after the party assigned the seat to an allied partner.

She went on to assert that the protests in July 2024 aimed to create a more inclusive Bangladesh, while expressing concern over the diminishing role of women in key decision-making arenas.

“Women led the charge in this movement. We witnessed a surge of young, fresh faces. Yet, within a year, those women seem to have vanished. Why is that?” the lawmaker queried.

“Women are crucial at the forefront of protests; they act as barriers against police tear gas and batons, and provide support during chaotic times. However, once the situation stabilizes, women are often objectified—criticized for their attire, appearance, speech, and laughter,” she added.

Expressing concerns regarding the power dynamics between the President and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Farhana remarked, “We had anticipated that the President would deliver a speech in his own words rather than recite one endorsed by the cabinet. Yet again, we witnessed the President being forced to read a cabinet-approved message.”

“If we cannot grant the President even this minor degree of autonomy, then what sort of balance are we truly discussing?” she questioned.