Courtesy: Niamul Rifat
In less than a week, on 12 February, Bangladesh will witness one of its most consequential parliamentary elections. The same day, the people of Bangladesh will also vote on a referendum that seeks to overhaul the country’s governance structure. The outcome of both, whichever way they turn out, is likely to pull Bangladesh into a vortex of political turmoil.
Courtesy: GK newspaper
On 12 February, Bangladesh will go to the polls to choose a new leader. India should work to maintain a robust and cordial working relationship with the new regime as it did during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure. The new government in Bangladesh should prioritise eliminating anti-India sentiments before they become entrenched, to prevent security challenges for itself and the region.
Courtesy: The Muslim News
On December 18, Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent leader of the 2024 student-led uprising, was assassinated. What began as protests against civil service quotas became a leaderless uprising. As Western powers celebrated a “democratic dawn”, Bangladesh slid into structured anarchy. Dhaka now faces two futures with terrifying clarity: one with elections skewed by military advantage and Islamist mobilisation, and the other by acknowledging that democracy cannot be airlifted.