Accurate Information to PM Essential for Tackling Crises

The gas and electricity crisis has severely disrupted life in both urban and rural areas. People have been suffering for months, and the intense heat of Bhadra has made their hardship worse. The crisis has not only disrupted production but also affected cooking, students’ education and public health. As the situation continues to deteriorate, public anger and frustration with the government are increasingly visible on social media and across the country. The crisis has now become one of the government’s major points of criticism. Even many ordinary people who support the government are expressing dissatisfaction. Since gas and electricity affect people of all social and economic classes, they hold the government responsible. Regardless of how much the government explains the actual causes, people expect it to find a solution.

Observers say the government is not regularly informing the public about the reasons behind the crisis, the measures being taken or when the situation is expected to become manageable. People want to know what the government is doing. This lack of information is gradually increasing public dissatisfaction and anger. The gas and electricity crisis has also become a major political issue for the opposition. The 11-party opposition alliance has already announced a long march over the issue. National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan told journalists that the programme was announced to protest the ongoing gas, electricity and energy crisis as well as the economic hardship faced by the people.

It is natural for opposition parties to highlight public suffering and what they describe as government failures. Such programmes are also likely to receive public support. According to observers, although the Iran war is a factor behind the gas and electricity crisis, a lack of coordination among the government’s relevant ministries and authorities, along with serious mismanagement, has also contributed. They believe a section within the government is attempting to make it ineffective by exploiting the issue, while information gaps and misinformation are playing a significant role.

PM Tarique Rahman is known for his active approach and ability to make immediate decisions. Observers say he has repeatedly ordered quick solutions when accurate information has reached him. However, they question how much information about the current severe gas and electricity crisis and the widespread load-shedding from cities to villages is actually reaching the prime minister.
They suspect that those providing information to the prime minister are not giving him the full picture. Instead, they may be presenting half-truths, suggesting that “the crisis is not as serious as being reported,” or giving the impression that “everything is fine.” In this way, they may be creating a wall around the prime minister and misleading him with inaccurate information.

As a result, the prime minister may be relying on such information without knowing the actual situation, making it difficult for him to take immediate measures to address the crisis. Similar information distortions have surrounded heads of government in the past, eventually putting the government in difficult situations.
The current load-shedding situation illustrates the problem. In Dhaka, different areas experience power cuts three to four times a day on average, or even more, with each outage lasting about an hour. The situation in rural areas is even more severe. According to newspaper reports, electricity remains unavailable there for an average of 12 to 14 hours within a 24-hour period. Rural residents may know how long the power outage will last, but they do not know how long electricity will remain available once it returns.

This has intensified public dissatisfaction with the government and could negatively affect its popularity.
The situation can be compared to medical treatment: if a disease is correctly diagnosed, appropriate treatment can be provided. If the diagnosis is wrong, the consequences of incorrect treatment are obvious. Similarly, if the prime minister is given reassuring information instead of the actual picture of the crisis, he will not be able to make the right decisions, and public dissatisfaction will not disappear.

Politically, the BNP is not primarily a cadre-based party like many others; it has a large base of general supporters, a significant portion of whom are homemakers. These women are now facing severe hardship. Gas shortages are making cooking extremely difficult and causing frustration. Disruptions to meals for their children and other family members are creating mental distress. At the same time, electricity shortages and extreme heat are adding to their pressure. This frustration is increasingly being directed at the government, which is not a positive sign. The sooner the government takes steps to reduce public suffering, the better it will be for the government. Otherwise, both the party and the government could face serious consequences.

The inadequate supply of gas and electricity is also pushing the production system and the overall economy into a severe crisis. Businesses, industries, agriculture, fisheries, poultry farms and storage facilities for raw and perishable goods are facing serious difficulties. Many factories have already closed or suspended production by declaring holidays. As a result, many workers have become unemployed, while families facing reduced or no income are suffering greatly.

If the government fails to address this urgent situation, its base of public support could quickly weaken. It would not be surprising if people took to the streets in large numbers. No government can go far while facing widespread public dissatisfaction. The fall of the “fascist Hasina” was partly driven by public discontent arising from economic hardship. The current government should keep this in mind and act quickly to address the growing dissatisfaction caused by the broader economic difficulties. There are many knowledgeable and experienced people and experts both within and outside the government. The government should consult and coordinate with them and take immediate measures to bring the current gas and electricity crisis under control. If necessary, it should form a committee of experts and take coordinated action.

The problems need to be addressed through a day-to-day process. During the interim government period, the gas and electricity crisis was managed through such a process. Observers believe the situation could become manageable if the current government adopts the same approach.

PM Tarique Rahman must play a leading role in this effort. Instead of relying solely on information provided by people around him, he should obtain an accurate picture through alternative sources. He must ensure a quick response to the crisis. It should be emphasized that an information gap can bring disaster to any government. Therefore, the prime minister must be given– and must himself seek– accurate information about the problems and the crisis.