Muhammad Enamul Haque Mithu
Over half a century has passed since our independence. It is not a very long time, yet not a short one either. Within this period, many struggling nations in Asia have achieved remarkable progress and reached the threshold of the First World. We, too, have advanced along the highway of development. Yet, unfortunately, the true benefits of this progress have not reached the majority of our people. The neo-feudal structure of society remains largely unchanged. The promises of the Liberation War, the expectations of the people, and the dream of an equitable society are still unfulfilled.
Renowned economist and social thinker Dr. Rehman Sobhan rightly observed:
“The commitment to build an equitable society during the Liberation War has still not been realized. Even after 54 years of independence, Bangladesh continues its relentless struggle for true liberation.”
Indeed, the indicators of development like GDP growth, infrastructure, and visible progress do not necessarily reflect real prosperity. The true measure of development lies in people’s quality of life, safety, justice, peace, and humanity. These are precisely the areas where we continue to fall behind.
This raises important questions:
Have we been able to fulfil the dreams of the Liberation War?
Why is our moral consciousness eroding?
Why is patriotism fading?
Why is a just and equitable society still beyond reach?
To find the answers, we must examine our social structure, political culture, governance, and moral crisis. Our society has long been plagued by greed, consumerism, vengeance, hatred, moral decay, lack of transparency, and an absence of accountability and responsibility. These deep-rooted problems are continuously giving birth to new forms of crime, gradually tearing apart the fabric of humanity, integrity, and social harmony.
The brutality against women and children, rising teenage gangs, campus violence, torture cells, casino culture, stock market and banking scams, extortion, tender manipulation, food adulteration, disorder in education and healthcare, question leaks, recurring road accidents, enforced disappearances, murders, assaults, land and river encroachment- are these isolated incidents?
No. They are the reflections of a severe moral decline.
When people hesitate to intervene even after witnessing a crime, it signals a frightening social condition. Without moral awakening, such crimes cannot be curbed.
Corruption has also become widespread and deeply entrenched in the state, society, and business sectors alike. According to the World Economic Forum, corruption is Bangladesh’s most critical problem. From the financial sector to the administrative chain, the scale of embezzlement is no longer a “pond theft”; it is an oceanic plunder. As a result, inequality is rising and social injustice is intensifying.
Even in 2025, corruption remains rampant. No government has been able to remain above corruption. Development has taken place, but distorted development has also flourished. For many, the distinction between ethical and unethical, legal and illegal, just and unjust is becoming increasingly blurred. Hypocrisy, deception, and falsehood are growing stronger.
The most essential step in combating corruption is to cultivate strong moral values, honesty, responsibility, and a sense of social conscience within individuals. We must establish a firm belief that, No matter how powerful a corrupt individual is, they will not escape justice; punishment is inevitable; their illicit wealth will be seized by the state. Only this message, reflected through law and justice, can restore people’s faith in the system.
Therefore, moral awakening across all levels society, state, and family is now the call of the time. When moral values flourish, the path opens for justice, humanity, honesty, patriotism, and responsibility. Along that path emerges a better society, a safer future, and a true Bangladesh founded on the ideals of the Liberation War. This is the expectation of people from all walks of life.
Writer Muhammad Enamul Haque Mithu is a columnist.
