TRADITIONALLY, many would believe that a government comes and goes leaving a gulf between the citizens' expectations and their attainment. Yet a sea of hope surrounds the newly formed government in Bangladesh, largely because the now-ruling Mohajot alliance secured an electoral landslide victory in the first election to be held in seven years. “We expect the government to develop the economy and to bring down inflation. I also hope that they increase the GDP and can unite all the political parties,” said Jahangir Alam, chairman of the Bangladesh International School, Jeddah. The 9th National Assembly Election of Bangladesh saw the Mohajot alliance led by the Awami League secure 262 seats out of the total 299 seats. The League alone won 230 seats. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) got only 30 seats, and had initially alleged that the elections were rigged. Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, during her election campaign listed many salient points in her party's manifesto, including, free education up to graduation, free fertilizer supplies and low-cost equipment to farmers. Now the people of Bangladesh want to see the fulfillment of the promises made to them. Delwar Hossain Sarker, a Bangladeshi worker in Jeddah, said he is delighted with the new government. “This regime can make the country a ‘Sonar Bangla' (golden Bengal). They (government) have declared that soon the country will be transformed into a digital Bangladesh,” he said. Shahjahan Chanchal, a Bangladeshi expatriate in the Kingdom, said that he wished to see the Bangladeshi government has closer ties with Saudi Arabia. “Saudi Arabia is like our second home. Good relations between the two governments are therefore important,” he said. Bangladeshi manpower in Saudi Arabia is estimated at about 1.5 million. Eng. Fazlul Hoque, another Bangladeshi expatriate, said his country should honor Saudi Arabia, “which leads the Muslim Ummah and has always provided vital help to Bangladesh. I hope that we are treated well in our home country as well as abroad,” he said. Calling the new administration ‘unique', Yousuf Mahmoud Farazi, another Bangladeshi expat who has worked in the Kingdom for many years, said: “The government has a long-term vision and mission, and its commitment to the ‘Vision 2021' is commendable,” he said. Mahmudul Hasan Shamim, a sales executive, welcomed the new government, saying that most of the cabinet members have an honest image.
