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When conducting qualitative research, In-depth Interviews (IDI), Key Informant Interviews (KII), and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) are staple tools that we use to elicit information from those we work with. The use of these tools has become a matter of reflex when thinking about using a qualitative methodology. As useful as they are, it is important to push ourselves and our toolbox to think of more exploratory ways to capture the rich data that add layers to our work.

The basic premise of IDIs is that they provide important and interesting insight from our interlocutors that cannot be captured with closed-ended surveys, where the response is presupposed and limited. Often when we conduct interviews for programmatic research, the relationship between the participant and the research is very shallow, as there is rarely pre-existing rapport. Rich interviews, on the other hand, require a level of trust, understanding, reflection, and critical engagement with the questions from both sides (Johnson & Rowlands, 2012). As a result, if time and budget permit, it is helpful to think of broadening our interview techniques and methodology to be able to really gain insight into what people think and believe, moving beyond shallow front-stage representation (Goffman, 2023).

Repeat interviews are a good way to build relationships that allow for a nuanced understanding of how people think about the issue at hand. Though more expensive, they are a useful tool for both the researcher and the participant to unpack issues that may have arisen in the first interview, but could not be explored due to time constraints. Following up with interlocutors to see if they have changed their thoughts and opinions, posing questions that may have come up in other interviews and that may contradict or coincide with what the respondent had said, are useful exercises we can undertake in our second or third interviews. This approach elicits critical engagement from those we work with, directly offering an additional layer of meaning-making that we can use in our analysis, one that incorporates deeper reflection from the participants.

There are of course different ways to do this: 

• • Scheduling a second interview after a particular interval as a follow up conversation. This allows the interviewee to know that she can add to or change her responses. It also allows the interviewer the flexibility to clarify and probe further on topics she might have missed during the first interview.
  • Asking the interviewee to keep a record of incidents related to the topic by making short descriptive notes. Later during the interview, she can explain her thoughts, experiences, and feelings regarding the incident, and how she navigated the situation in greater detail. 
  • Participatory games and decision-making exercises during interviews. This is an important tool for moving beyond simple verbal expression to gain an understanding of how people react to and behave in contextual situations.

Grounding the conversation in recently-lived reality, as facilitated by follow-up interviews, allows the interviewer to gain valuable insight into the gap between ‘what people say’ and ‘what people are able to or choose to do’ (Wilson, et al. 2016). This gap then allows us to explore how different people can navigate the how and why elements of human behaviour that qualitative research is so good at doing.

Record keeping can be broken into two forms: diary-keeping and calendar-marking. Diary-keeping prompts respondents to keep a detailed narrative diary of their actions, events in their lives, or whatever the specified topic may be (Cao & Henderson, 2021). With diary-keeping we ask for detailed narrative accounts from participants. With calendar-marking, only the date and the incident are recorded, without any additional details. The benefit of diary-keeping is that interlocutors record their experiences soon after they take place, as timely reflections tend to be richer. If we couple diary-keeping with interviews after the interviewer has had time to review the diaries and formulate questions, the combination of the two can produce rich data. 

When using diaries however, we need to be mindful of interlocutors’ literacy and comfort with writing. There are technologically-mediated solutions to this challenge – due to the proliferation of mobile phones with audio recording facilities, it is possible to ask people to record their thoughts, an approach that can be useful when working with individuals who are not able to take time out of their busy lives to journal or keep a diary. An additional advantage of this method of digital diary-keeping is that it offers us a stream of consciousness of participants’ thoughts and feelings which they may not be as comfortable writing, owing to discomfort in writing, or the act of writing being more laborious. Both approaches have their pros and cons of course, as writing is a slower process and can enable a more reflective and intentional account.

A third tool that can complement our basic semi-structured interviews is introducing games and situational choices. Participants are given hypothetical scenarios or case studies and are asked to reflect on either what they would do, or the decision made by the fictional character (Gibson, et al. 2024). Used extensively in different fields, these participatory tools give us an opportunity to both ground an interlocutor’s thinking in ways that make it easier to demonstrate in tangible ways, and allow a participant to expand on her reasoning non-verbally. These approaches also create an additional common reference point between interviewees where we can explore the various points of similarities and differences. Qualitative research, after all, aims to explore and investigate complexity, and the greater the complexity we can capture in an interlocutor’s assessment of the subject of our research, the better our quality of work.

As an example, Triantafyllakos et al. (2010) employed the ‘design alter ego’ technique to create an online course. The students who were participating in the study were asked to create an ‘alter ego’ who had specific interests and needs, in addition to the students’ real interests and needs. The researchers found that by allowing the students to create alter egos, the students were able to share additional insights, were more introspective, and were more openly creative – they did not feel judged for sharing things because it was not technically them who thought these things. The idealised personas they created allowed the students to be freer and therefore more expressive and open, leading to richer insights.

At the heart of all qualitative research is the search to understand people’s lived reality through their own words and thoughts, and the better our rapport with those with whom we work, the more forthcoming they will be. Unfortunately, this requires time, as short interviews tend to lack the space to allow both the interviewer and the interviewee to reflect on what is being said. Tool selection must always be led by the research question, and broadening our toolkit beyond basic standard interviews allows us to dig a little deeper. Good research is not only about the sample size, it must also answer the question, ‘are we getting critical, reflective responses?’

Bibliography

Cao, X. and Henderson, E.F., 2021. The interweaving of diaries and lives: diary-keeping behaviour in a diary-interview study of international students’ employability management. Qualitative Research, 21(6), pp.829-845.

Gibson, F., Fern, L., Oulton, K., Stegenga, K. and Aldiss, S., 2024. Being participatory through interviews. In Being Participatory: Researching with Children and Young People: Co-constructing Knowledge Using Creative, Digital and Innovative Techniques (pp. 117-144). Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Goffman, E., 2023. The presentation of self in everyday life. In Social theory re-wired (pp. 450-459). Routledge.

Johnson, J.M. and Rowlands, T., 2012. The interpersonal dynamics of in-depth interviewing. The SAGE handbook of interview research: The complexity of the craft, pp.99-113.

Mao, J. and Feldman, E., 2019. Class matters: Interviewing across social class boundaries. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 22(2), pp.125-137.

Triantafyllakos, G., Palaigeorgiou, G. and Tsoukalas, I.A., 2010. Fictional characters in participatory design sessions: Introducing the “design alter egos” technique. Interacting with Computers, 22(3), pp.165-175.

Wilson, A.D., Onwuegbuzie, A.J. and Manning, L.P., 2016. Using paired depth interviews to collect qualitative data. The Qualitative Report, 21(9), pp.1549-1573.

Despite steady incomes, low- and moderate-wage earners often face financial setbacks due to short-term liquidity issues. Their tight budgets typically cover only essentials, leaving little room for unexpected expenses like medical emergencies or home repairs, as well as predictable but irregular costs like school fees. With minimal savings and limited access to affordable credit, these households frequently struggle to smooth their spending when faced with sudden financial shocks. They bridge these gaps by relying on costly informal loans, social networks, or liquidating assets. In more severe cases, families may cut back on essentials like food, healthcare, or utility payments to make ends meet. The stress from these financial constraints can deepen debt burdens and strain both mental and physical well-being.

Gender disparities further complicate the picture. In India, women are more likely than men to worry about routine expenses, such as their children’s school fees (Demirgüç-Kunt et al., 2022). They also face greater challenges in accessing emergency funds, often depending on unreliable family support. Savings-locked-     in self-help groups or informal chit funds[1]—popular among women—are often inaccessible in times of need. Understanding the magnitude of these liquidity issues and the coping strategies used by workers is crucial. High-frequency surveys conducted at different times of the year provide valuable insights into how workers manage their finances, the seasonality in liquidity issues, and the impact of liquidity shortages on borrowing and spending.

In a recent study, we examined the impact of earned wage access for women workers in a garment factory in rural Karnataka. In the first 10 months of the project  (October 2023 to July 2024), we surveyed 834 workers[2] at the end of their pay cycle. To reduce survey fatigue, we used a rotating panel design where each worker was interviewed a maximum of three times. When asked if they found it difficult to make ends meet, 22.8% of the women reported struggling, though the figure fluctuated between 16% in May 2024 and 36% in October 2023. One worker shared her experience:

“My spouse hasn’t worked for two months, and I’ve had to manage household expenses with just my salary. I cut down on vegetables and missed my regular doctor’s checkup. I even canceled plans to visit my family because I didn’t have the money.”
Another worker said, “I canceled a family trip and skipped buying new glasses. I’ve lost sleep for the past few days, worrying about money.”

Figure 1

Going by workers’ accounts, workers reduce their expenditures or defer payments to cope with liquidity shortages. On average, 27.2% of respondents reported reducing or foregoing some expenses altogether during the survey month. The average amount of foregone or reduced expenditure is INR 2,298 (median INR 1,720)[3]. More than half of these cuts were on food—for instance, workers bought smaller quantities of meat and vegetables or skipped them entirely. Other areas affected included children’s school expenses (14.6%), mobile phone recharges (15.3%), family events and travel (10.68%), loan payments (8.2%), and medical costs (7.5%).  

Some workers also borrow small interest-free loans to tide over their liquidity crunch.  On an average 17% of the women workers report borrowing for their usual monthly expenses or unplanned emergencies. They mostly borrow from family and friends (86%) and coworkers (9.5%) between paychecks and repay these loans once their next paycheck arrives.  Around 12% of the workers had to borrow as well as reduce their expenditure to make ends meet in any given month. 

In summary, it is evident from our monthly surveys on financial stress with low-income women workers that nearly one in four workers are vulnerable to short-term liquidity issues. Understanding their coping strategies and offering more accessible financial products in the formal sector could alleviate their financial stress and improve their overall financial resilience. Enhanced financial inclusion and improved financial management skills, especially for women, could ensure that fewer households are forced to choose between essential needs and unexpected financial shocks.

[1] Chit funds, popularly known as ROSCAs, can be endogenous (run and operated by women themselves) or exogenous (run by an external agent or agency).
[2] 834 ever married women workers represent our total study sample for the project.
[3] These are equivalent to USD 27.1 (mean) and USD 22.7 (median). We apply a conversion rate of USD 1 is equal to INR 84.7.

The optimism surrounding Bangladesh’s future has grown since the July 2024 Movement, but not equally for everyone. The first round of BIGD’s pulse survey conducted right after the uprising reveals an unsettling trend—while overall optimism has increased, the gender gap has widened. The optimism gap between men and women has grown from three percentage points in 2022 to eight percentage points in 2024, suggesting women are increasingly less hopeful about the future than men.

Watch Episode 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuR_YZX5XiY&t=339s  

টং আলাপ (Tong Conversations) draws inspiration from Bangladesh’s beloved “Tong”—roadside tea stalls where perspectives freely flow, offering a comfortable space for meaningful dialogue—a vantage point that is neither an ivory tower view nor grounded in everyday struggles. Like these traditional gathering spots, our series creates a casual and relaxed space that brings thought leaders and young researchers together to share ideas, deepen understanding, and explore pressing issues facing our nation. It’s a place where evocative dialogue thrives, unbound by hierarchy or convention.

In the third instalment of Tong Conversations, Syeda Salina Aziz, Fellow of Practice at BIGD, invited a diverse group of discussants to explore the causes of the growing gender gap in optimism and its sociopolitical implications. The discussants included Dr Sohela Nazneen, Research Fellow of the Institute of Development Studies; Dr Rohini Kamal, Assistant Professor and Research Fellow at BIGD; and BIGD’s young researchers: Shamsad Navia Novelly, Sumaiya Tasnim, Zarine Anan Khondoker, Sheikh Arman Tamim and Inteemum Ahsan.

The conversation opened with a deep dive into the survey findings, raising questions about why women feel less optimistic than men. One of the central factors is the perception about women’s role and their representation in politics. A UN study revealed that globally 59% of people believe men are better suited for leadership than women. It is a belief that mirrors attitudes in Bangladesh. The panellists noted that women are often dismissed as serious voters or political actors, with societal assumptions that their votes merely reflect family decisions. This narrative is not exclusive to Bangladesh. The panel drew parallels with Pakistan, where women are largely overlooked during political campaigns and are expected to focus on domestic responsibilities rather than civic participation. These patterns of exclusion contribute to a universal sense of disenfranchisement among women, further eroding their optimism.

Safety concerns also loom large. A surge in harassment has further dampened women’s outlook. “দেশ স্বাধীন হলো, আর তার পরের দিন থেকেই রাস্তায় মানুষ comment করতে শুরু করলো – ওড়না ভালো মতো পেঁচাও”( The country gained independence, and from the very next day, people on the streets started commenting – ‘Wrap your scarf properly), “আগে এক দল harass করত, দুই দিন পর এখন আরেক দল করছে”( Before, one group used to harass; now, two days later, another group is doing it) – a reality underscored by personal anecdotes shared by some of the discussants. This persistent fear not only restricts women’s mobility but also curtails their independence and deeply impacts their overall outlook on life.

Drawing from Egypt’s 2011 Tahrir Square uprising, Dr. Nazneen highlighted how women had an active participation in the protests, and yet subsequent reforms saw the removal of women’s quotas due to their lack of representation in decision-making positions. A similar scenario emerged in Bangladesh during the post-revolution period. One prominent female protester was appointed as an advisor in the Detective Branch of the Metropolitan Police, a move which was initially celebrated. However, she quickly disappeared from the public sphere, raising questions about whether women will truly have a voice in shaping the future.

Political factors aside, economic pressures also play a significant role in the growing gender gap in optimism. Inflation and increasing costs of living impact people in the lower income bracket, particularly women. Women from lower-income households often bear the brunt of managing family needs during times of crisis. Even when they don’t have to provide, the stress of managing the entire family leaves women feeling increasingly vulnerable. 

The conversation continued on women of the lower-middle class—a group disproportionately affected during crises like COVID-19 and also during the recent uprising. While overall optimism has reached new heights post-uprising, the gender gap in this sentiment has widened, and women in the poorest socioeconomic bracket remain least hopeful. And why wouldn’t they be? A recent protest in the ready-made garments sector highlighted hiring discrimination against women. Yet, the public discourse shifted to their income levels rather than addressing the root issue of gender disparity in hiring. Rohini Kamal aptly summarized, “যখন gender নিয়ে কথা আসে, সেটা ধামাচাপা দেওয়া হয়”(Whenever gender issues arise, they’re pushed under the rug). This kind of systemic neglect is a glaring reason for the decline in women’s optimism.

Bangladesh has often celebrated its progress on women’s rights—reduced maternal mortality, increased access to education—but have these achievements been taken for granted? The discussants raised a pressing question: Are the rights we assumed were secure actually safe in this new political era? Will they be reevaluated under the current government? For real progress all the stakeholders must have open discussions where no one’s autonomy is compromised. As Dr. Nazneen emphasized, “Everyone has a right to shape their own life, and no one should take that away.”

The panellists then reflected on the direction Bangladesh was heading towards. Are we moving forward or reverting to old patterns? The answers lie in examining current practices. Women may have the right to work, but societal attitudes and systemic barriers continue to hinder their progress. For instance, there is still a pervasive belief that women in the workplace are to blame for rising male unemployment. Some even argued that the country was lagging because it had a female leader. These aren’t just fringe opinions; they reflect deep-seated societal biases that influence everyday realities for women.

Accountability remains elusive. A recent Facebook post questioning, “Are women facing more harassment now?” received over 2,500 shares. These experiences underline the harsh truth that things are not as progressive as they seem. When women are being criticized, they are criticized for how they dress and speak, not for the content or r quality of work or opinion. As Sumaiya noted, sentiments like “এখন দেশ গঠনের সময়। এখন এত সময় নেই। এখন আমরা নারী আনতে পারব না। যারা যোগ্য, তাদেরই নেব।” (This is the time for rebuilding the country; we don’t have time to involve women—we’ll take those who are qualified), highlight how women are still perceived as a separate entity from qualifications and competence.

As the discussion drew to a close, the panel reflected on actionable steps for a more inclusive future. Acknowledging women’s contributions is a good starting point. Many women were among the first responders to the wounded during the protests, yet their efforts went unrecognized. Gender-focused analyses of economic reforms and systemic changes are essential. Representation at local and rural levels should be prioritized to ensure policies reflect the needs of all citizens. Building citizenship from the grassroots level and addressing local issues can create a foundation for a more equitable society.

In the final moments, the panel reminded everyone that this struggle is not just for women; it’s for everyone, and yes, it is interdependent and multi-layered. Reflecting on the vision of ‘Bangladesh 2.0’, which is often described as “দ্বিতীয় স্বাধীনতা”(second independence), the discussants emphasized that no society can truly be free if one group remains oppressed. True freedom requires the dismantling of all forms of injustice. Only then can Bangladesh live up to its revolutionary promise of an inclusive and hopeful future for all its citizens.

In the aftermath of the July 2024 Movement, student politics has come under critical scrutiny, fueled by allegations of the Bangladesh Chhatra League’s violent suppression of student-led protests during the movement. Data from the first round of BIGD’s pulse survey, conducted just two weeks after the fall of the Awami-led regime, revealed a striking consensus: 81% of respondents supported banning party-centric student politics on campus, while 84% advocated against party-affiliated teachers’ politics. These numbers show a clear picture of the post-revolution public sentiment. 

Watch Episode 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Pn9OU0o-00&t=175s 

টং আলাপ (Tong Conversations) draws inspiration from Bangladesh’s beloved “Tong”—roadside tea stalls where conversations flow freely and perspectives mingle—a vantage point that is neither an ivory tower view nor grounded in everyday struggles. Like these traditional gathering spots, our series creates a casual and relaxed space that brings thought leaders and young researchers together to share ideas, deepen understandings, and explore pressing issues facing our nation. It’s a place where meaningful dialogue thrives, unbound by hierarchy or convention.

In the second episode of Tong Conversations, Syeda Salina Aziz, Fellow of Practice at BIGD, shared insights from the pulse survey on the public sentiments on student and teachers’ politics on campus. Then she invited BIGD’s young researchers Rabeena Sultana Ananna, Md. Karimul Islam, Md. Johirul Islam, and Ishraq Sabbir Nirjhor to reflect on the matter. Dr Asif Shahan, Visiting Research Fellow of BIGD, and Mr. Kamruz Zaman, one of our Research Coordinators, also took part in the conversation. 

The discussion began with a shared recognition of how, over time, traditional student politics had morphed into a tool of power and control. Discussants described a common pattern: student wings of political parties, empowered by their political patrons, would often forcibly occupy student accommodations, harass and torture students, and even, at times, carry out extortion under party banners. 

“ছাত্র রাজনীতি নিষিদ্ধ হওয়া উচিত কারণ এটি জাতীয় রাজনৈতিক দলের সাথে connected, এবং সেখান থেকেই তাদের ক্ষমতা আসছে এবং এই ক্ষমতাকে তারা exploit করছে।“ (Student politics should be prohibited because it is connected to national political parties, which are the sources of their power, and they are exploiting this power”.)—this one line from Johirul summarized how Chatro League’s actions were carried out during the Awami-led regime and why citizens have become fed up with campus-based student politics. 

However,  while participants strongly opposed the existing model of student politics, they envisioned a new framework for student representation. Independent student ogranizations could potentially serve as a check and balance, ensuring political accountability and amplifying student voices on crucial issues affecting university life. The conversation took an interesting turn when addressing the fundamental right to political expression. While condemning institutional political activities, participants acknowledged the importance of preserving individual political rights. Students should retain the freedom to hold and express political ideologies, provided these expressions don’t impede others’ rights or disrupt the academic environment.

Some discussants offered counterarguments to a complete ban, highlighting the historical role of student politics in nation-building. Despite its current state, politics is often a valuable networking platform for students. Engaging in politics can also potentially help students develop key skills. Rather than absolute prohibition, they advocated for systematic reforms to address the root causes of political corruption in educational institutions. 

In the final segment, discussants found common ground in criticizing the involvement of teachers in politics. The consensus was that teaching is a noble profession and truly demands unbiased dedication towards the values and overall well-being of the students and institutions. Recent events during the uprising demonstrated how political affiliations could compromise this fundamental responsibility and how many teachers had to remain silent out of fear due to their political affiliation. There should not be anything that would compromise an educators’ primary responsibility to their students and institutions, but it happened nonetheless in various forms across the country. 

The discussion drew to a close with a shared understanding that Bangladesh’s post-revolutionary landscape demands a fundamental reimagining of campus politics from its core. The future can hold a new model of student representation—one that preserves individual political rights while preventing the institutional abuse that has plagued universities for generations. 

১।
সুখ্যাত চলচ্চিত্র পরিচালক ঋত্বিক ঘটক বলেছিলেন, “ভাবো, ভাবো। ভাবা প্র্যাকটিস করো।” চিন্তন বা ভাবনার উন্মেষ ঘটেছে মানুষের জন্মলগ্নে। মানুষ জন্মের পর হতে ভাবতে শিখেছে, তখন থেকে প্রশ্ন করতেও শিখেছে। চিন্তন প্রক্রিয়ার প্রাথমিক বহিঃপ্রকাশই হলো প্রশ্ন করা। প্রশ্ন তোলা ও উত্তর খোঁজার নিরন্তর যাত্রার মধ্য দিয়ে সভ্যতার উৎকর্ষ সাধিত হয়। বাংলাদেশের চলমান প্রেক্ষাপটে আমরা দেখছি, বর্তমানে দেশে সঠিক প্রশ্ন করার একটি সংস্কৃতি তৈরি হয়েছে। তবে, প্রশ্নটি সঠিক হলেও সেই প্রশ্নটি যাদের কাছে উত্থাপিত হচ্ছে, সেই কাঠামোটি কতটুকু সঠিক?

২।
বাংলাদেশ পরিসংখ্যান ব্যুরোর (বিবিএস) দেয়া তথ্যমতে, দেশে কর্মক্ষম জনগোষ্ঠীর সংখ্যা ৬৫ শতাংশ, অর্থাৎ নির্ভরশীল জনগোষ্ঠী ৩৫ শতাংশ। ফলে, “ডেমোগ্রাফিক ডিভিডেন্ড” বা, ‘জনমিতিক লভ্যাংশ’ নেয়ার সুযোগ এখন বাংলাদেশের সামনে। বিপুল কর্মক্ষম এই জনগোষ্ঠীকে দক্ষ কর্মশক্তিতে পরিণত করে তাদের কর্মসংস্থান বা অর্থৈতিক কর্মযজ্ঞে সম্পৃক্ততা নিশ্চিত করার ওপরই নির্ভর করছে ‘ডেমোগ্রাফিক ডিভিডেন্ড’ পাওয়ার বিষয়টি। কেন “ডেমোগ্রাফিক ডিভিডেন্ড”-এর কথা এলো? কারণ, বাংলাদেশের সাম্প্রতিক রাজনৈতিক রূপান্তরের মূল চালক আমাদের বিশাল তরুণ গোষ্ঠী, যাদের বলা হচ্ছে জেন-জি (Gen-Z)। অবশ্য শুধু জেন-জি’রাই নয়, এর সাথে আগের দু’টি প্রজন্ম জেন-এক্স ও জেন-ওয়াই-ও এই জনমিতিক লভ্যাংশের হিস্যা। তারা দেখিয়েছে, প্রশ্ন কিভাবে করতে হয়, কোথায় করতে হয়। এই তরুণদলের অমিত সম্ভাবনার প্রমাণ হিসেবে আমরা একটি কর্তৃত্ববাদী সরকারের পতন দেখেছি। দেখেছি দেশ গড়ার কাজে স্বেচ্ছাশ্রম, দায়িত্ব কাঁধে নেয়ার নির্মোহ তাড়না, সমাজব্যবস্থা ও রাষ্ট্রকাঠামোকে ঢেলে সাজানোর প্রত্যয়। তারুণ্যের এই প্রবল জোয়ারকে কিভাবে দেশ গঠনে কাজে লাগানো যায়, সেটা নিয়ে বর্তমানে নানা ফোরামে নানাবিধ আলোচনা চলছে। অর্থাৎ, ভাবনার কাজটি এগোচ্ছে।

৩।
প্রশ্ন করা যাক, ১৫ বছর আগেকার তারুণ্য কেন সরব হতে পারে নি? কি এমন ঘটল যে, দেড় দশক ধরে শাসন করা আপাতদৃষ্টিতে একটি শক্ত ভিতের ওপর দাঁড়িয়ে থাকা সরকার মাত্র ৩৬ দিনে ভেঙে পড়ল? কোথায় ছিল এত এত দুর্নীতি, স্বজনপ্রীতি, আয়নাঘর, আর ক্ষমতা অপব্যবহারের কিসসা এবং বৈষম্যের বয়ান, যা এখন প্রায় প্রতিদিনই দেখা যাচ্ছে গণমাধ্যমে? উত্তর ঐ একটাই, প্রশ্ন করা যায় নি। বলা ভালো, প্রশ্ন করতে দেয়া হয় নি। প্রশ্ন উঠলেও সে প্রশ্নকে ধামাচাপা দিয়ে, প্রশ্নকর্তাকে নির্যাতন, হত্যা, বা গুম করে আমাদের কণ্ঠস্বরকে দাবিয়ে রাখা হয়েছে। ফলে গত ১৫-২০ বছরে আমরা দেখেও দেখি নি, শুনেও শুনি নি, বলেও বলি নি। অর্থাৎ, দেশের জনগণ হিসেবে দেশে যা যা হয়েছে, তা আমরা হয় মেনে নিয়েছি, নয়তো সমর্থন করেছি। এ প্রসঙ্গে ব্র্যাক বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের ব্র্যাক ইনস্টিটিউট অফ গভর্ন্যান্স অ্যান্ড ডেভলপমেন্ট (বিআইজিডি)’র “টং আলাপ”-এ একটি গঠনমূলক আলোচনার সূত্র টেনে আনা যেতে পারে। “সমর্থন করা” ও “মেনে নেয়া”র মাঝে একধরনের পার্থক্য দেখিয়ে “টং আলাপ”-এর বক্তারা বোঝার চেষ্টা করেছেন, ঠিক কোন বিষয়টি সর্বস্তরের জনসাধারণের মনে অভ্যুত্থান ঘটানোর মত মানসিকতার সৃষ্টি করেছে।

৪।
সম্প্রতি ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে “অভ্যুত্থানের চল্লিশ দিনঃ মানুষ কি ভাবছে?” শীর্ষক এক উন্মুক্ত আলোচনায় উপস্থিত বক্তা ও অতিথিদের বক্তব্যে আগামির বাংলাদেশে গনতান্ত্রিক রূপটি কেমন হতে পারে, তা নিয়ে কমবেশি আলোচনা হয়েছে। এ আলোচনা সভাটি ছিল মূলত “পালস সার্ভে ২০২৪: জনগণের মতামত, অভিজ্ঞতা, ও প্রত্যাশা” শিরোনামের একটি সদ্য প্রকাশিত সমীক্ষার ফলাফল জানানোর আয়োজন। সমীক্ষাটি আমাদের জানাচ্ছে, অন্তর্বর্তীকালীন সরকারের নেতৃত্বে দেশের রাজনীতি ও অর্থনীতি যেভাবে চলছে তা নিয়ে অধিকাংশ মানুষই আশাবাদী। শুধু তাই নয়, ছাত্র রাজনীতি, অর্থনৈতিক সংকট মোকাবেলা, নিরাপত্তা বাহিনির সংস্কার, শিক্ষা ও স্বাস্থ্য খাতের সংস্কার, এবং দুর্নীতি ও রাজনৈতিক দৈন্য দূর করার ব্যাপারেও জনগণ সচেতন। যদিও জনসাধারণের এ সচেতনতা অভিজ্ঞতাপ্রসূত নয়, বরঞ্চ অন্তর্বর্তীকালীন সরকারের প্রতি আশাবাদ থেকেই উৎসরিত- তবুও, এই আশাবাদই ভবিষ্যৎ বাংলাদেশের গণতান্ত্রিক রূপরেখার প্রতিচ্ছবি। কারণ, ইতিহাস আমাদের বলে এর আগে যখন ১৯৭১ সালে মুক্তিযুদ্ধ বা ১৯৯০ সালে স্বৈরাচার বিরোধী আন্দোলন হয়েছিলো, তখনও মানুষের মাঝে দেশের ভবিষ্যৎ নিয়ে একধরণের ইতিবাচক প্রতিক্রিয়া ছিল। তখনও মানুষ সংস্কার চেয়েছে, চেয়েছে খেয়েপরে বেঁচে থাকার ন্যুনতম অধিকার। সেই অধিকার খর্ব যে বা যারাই করেছে, জনগণ তাদের শেষ পর্যন্ত প্রত্যাখ্যান করেছে।

৫।
জন্মলগ্ন থেকে এ পর্যন্ত বাংলাদেশের রাজনীতি চলেছে নানা বাঁকবদলের মধ্য দিয়ে। তবে, ২০২৪ সালের আগস্ট মাসের ছাত্রজনতার আন্দোলন নানা কারণেই অন্য সকল আন্দোলন হতে প্রকৃতিতে আলাদা। ইন্টারনেট, সামাজিক যোগাযোগমাধ্যম ও জেন-জি-দের একটা বড় ভূমিকা এ আন্দোলনে ছিলো, যা আগেকার আন্দোলনগুলোতে ছিলো অনুপস্থিত। একইসাথে কোটা সংস্কারের জন্য ২০১৩ ও ২০১৮ সালে রাজপথে নামা তরুণদের একটা বড় অংশকে দমিয়ে রাখা, নিরাপদ সড়ক আন্দোলনে শিক্ষার্থীদের সক্রিয় ভূমিকা ও পরিবহন নেতাদের উদাসীনতা, রাজনৈতিক নেতৃবৃন্দের সীমাহীন দুর্নীতি ও স্ববিরোধী বক্তব্য, দ্রব্যমূল্য বৃদ্ধি, মূল্যস্ফীতি, লেজুড়বৃত্তিক ছাত্ররাজনীতি, উন্নয়নের নামে জনভোগান্তি ও লোক দেখানো উন্নতি মানুষ দীর্ঘসময় ধরে মেনে নিলেও একসময়ে এসে তা সমর্থন করে নি। যার প্রমাণ পাওয়া যায় ২০২৩ সালে বিআইজিডি-দ্য এশিয়া ফাউন্ডেশন পরিচালিত The State of Bangladesh’s Political Governance, Development and Society: According to Its Citizens সমীক্ষার ফলাফলে। ঐ সমীক্ষায় দেখা গেছে, সে সময়ই ৪৮ শতাংশ মানুষ বাংলাদেশের রাজনৈতিক ভবিষ্যত সম্পর্কে হতাশ ছিল। সময়ের সাথে সাথে মানুষের এই হতাশা বেড়েছে বৈ কমেনি।

তবে ইতিহাস থেকে শিক্ষা নিয়ে আমাদের এটাও মনে রাখতে হবে, যে আশা নিয়ে মানুষ আগে রাজপথে নেমেছিল তাদের সে আশা কখনো কখনো শেষ পর্যন্ত পূরণ হয় নি। আগস্ট অভ্যুত্থানের ব্যবচ্ছেদ হয়তো আমরা এখন নানাভাবে নানা লেন্সে করছি, ভবিষ্যতেও করবো। এই ব্যবচ্ছেদের মধ্য দিয়েই হয়তো আগামির বাংলাদেশে সুষ্ঠু গনতন্ত্রের বিকাশ হবে। সেই গণতন্ত্রে আমরা মুক্তভাবে চিন্তা করতে পারব, স্বাধীনভাবে প্রশ্ন করতে পারব, সেখানে জবাবদিহিতা নিশ্চিত হবে, ক্ষমতাকে প্রশ্ন করার ক্ষমতাও থাকবে। বাংলাদেশ ২.০-তে আমাদের এ ব্যাপারটা নিশ্চিত করতে হবে। জনমিতিক লভ্যাংশই বলি কিংবা আর্থসামাজিক ও রাজনৈতিক মুক্তির কথাই বলি, দেশ গড়তে ইতিবাচক যাই করতে চাই না কেন, সেটা করার সময় এসেছে এখন। এমন সময়, সুযোগ আর জনবল বাংলাদেশ এর আগে খুব একটা পায় নি। এখন সময়টি তাই ভাবার, ভাবনার প্র্যাকটিস করার; তারপর সেই ভাবনাকে কাজে পরিণত করার।