Sheikh Hasina, the illegal regime Prime Minister of Bangladesh, is on the verge of eclipsing democracy in Bangladesh totally on the 7th through once again, a sham and farcical election to be staged with the patronization of her masters abroad and shameless beneficiaries clinging around her at home. This draconian dictator who even shamelessly calls herself a savior of democracy put the first nail in the coffin of democracy in 2014 and the second nail in 2018, is now aiming to hammer the final blow on the January 7, 2024 to perpetuate her rein in power. Only the spirit of Phenix –inherent in Democracy, can prevent its final funeral procession. No doubt, it is the people of Bangladesh who must act both as catalysts and executioners of resurrections. Notwithstanding, they need the support of the democratic world since it is now more interdependent or interrelated.
The regime tries to portray it as a democratic election, though all the parties participating in it are pro-regime entities set, approved, and blessed by the Bangladesh Awami League (BAL)-led incumbent. Even the independents had to take blessings from the ruling regime. Political pundits are puzzled about a real opposition after the so-called election. King´s or queen´s parties and other cohorts cannot be termed as oppositions. What an equation and alternatives to the people – official BAL candidates, unofficial BAL candidates, AL-supported dummy independent candidates, and BAL-blessed other political parties’ candidates! Whoever is elected, the voters cannot escape BAL, directly or indirectly. The role of the next opposition party will be more amusing than the present one i.e., the Jatiya Party planted by India. How brilliantly India is playing in Bangladesh where both the regime and the “opposition” are India´s choices!
India must understand that its long-term interest will be served better if it establishes relations with parties and a government that has the confidence of the people. The sooner it understands that, the better it is. It is impossible to think that a non-Awami League government in Dhaka will be automatically an anti-Indian government. The main opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is not an organization of ignorant people that has no common sense. But India must accept the fact that no patriotic party will compromise with the fundamental interests of Bangladesh. India can expect a win-win situation that will be best for both countries.
The people of Bangladesh are watching the dubious and unholy role of China and Russia with great concern. However, their role is not so crucial that it can affect the election significantly.
The democratic world has reasons to be concerned about this farcical election. They saw enough in 2014 and 2018. If the BAL regime succeeds and survives this time around, the world will see a new and camouflaged face of so-called democracy. Bangladesh might become a “role model” for other aspirant dictators, particularly in developing countries. There will be “multi-party” elections but no opposition. Pakistan has already started copying the Bangladeshi election model.
If India can make Bangladesh, a country of 180 million people, a vassal or satellite state through a puppet government mainly installed by it, other super or regional powers might try to follow suit. One can forget about the neighboring countries of the USA or China. Even small neighbors of Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, or Ethiopia might be in danger in the future.
As a member of the United Nations, Bangladesh is bound to abide by the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UN has been aware of the continuous and gross human rights violations in Bangladesh for more than a decade. It has become more flagrant recently so that the Dhaka regime can conduct the farcical election on 7th January. It is now the responsibility of the UN to take concrete actions against such human rights violations. Only the reports of “Human Rights Watch” are not enough.
Many critics rightly highlight the double standard of US policy on human rights and democratic governments. But at least in this conjuncture of political turning points, the US has extended its hands to the democratic forces of Bangladesh. So why will these critics not welcome them?
One cannot blame the BNP for not taking part in this fake election. After the annulment of the caretaker government system, the level playing field of elections has been eroded. The BNP trusted the regime’s promise of a fair election in 2018. And it turned out to be a suicidal attempt. Now they again request the main opposition to commit a second suicide!
The BNP and other opposition parties rightly avoided the trap.
*The writer is a senior Bangladeshi journalist now residing in Sweden.
January 5, 2024
The viewpoints expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions, viewpoints and editorial policies of Aequitas Review.
