Majority in Bangladesh think PM Hasina doing good job

An overwhelming majority of 70% respondents believe that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is doing a “good job,” according to the Washington-based International Republican Institute (IRI)

This is 4% more than the survey conducted by the same institution in 2018. IRI is an American nonprofit organization funded and supported by the United States federal government. Most of its board are drawn from the Republican Party.

The survey was conducted between March and April. The results are posted on the IRI website. The survey results come ahead of the national elections to be held by January next year. The ruling Awami League and the BNP party are at loggerheads over the election-time government, as the government says it would be held as per the constitution while the opposition demands a caretaker government system.

Some 55% believe that opposition parties should participate in the coming polls even in absence of a caretaker government, according to the survey. Analysts believe the rise in the approval rate of Prime Minister Hasina in a span of five years validates her successful Covid management, a raft of infrastructure projects, and the rolling out of a number of safety net schemes.

On the government’s performance in different sectors, the endorsement for Awami League also stood “high”. A staggering 87% (strongly and somewhat) approve of the role of the government in the developments of roads, highways and bridges, while 86% approve of the work of the government in ensuring availability of drinking water.

On ensuring availability of electricity, 84% endorsed the role of the government. Furthermore, 77% approved of the efforts put in by the government in driving quality healthcare.

A total of 81% endorsed the performance of the government in improving education, while 54% contended that the government’s fight against violent extremism was a success and 60% approved of the initiatives by the government in keeping the peace.

The role of the government in strengthening democracy in the country was approved by 54% of the respondents, and 52% approved of the role of the government in preventing enforced disappearances,

Moreover, 59% “expressed satisfaction” with the current choices on the emergence of new political parties. Over the work of civil society organizations, defined as a local, national, or international groups of people who organize to support a particular interest group or issue, as many as 62% respondents observed “for the most part they represent the interest of the elites”, in contrast to 35% who believed “they represent the interests of the ordinary people”.

On the corruption issue, 58% of the respondents observed that their lives have been impacted “not at all” by corruption in the past 12 months, with corruption defined as having to do a favour, give a gift or pay a bribe because someone misuses their positions for political gains. However, 9% said they are impacted on a monthly basis.

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