দেড় বছর পরও কর্তৃত্ববাদের ছায়া! | Election | The Press

Описание: Bangladesh’s Election at the Crossroads: The Ultimate Test of Neutral Democracy



Fear, uncertainty, and expectation—these three forces now define Bangladesh as it approaches the February 12 election. This vote is not merely a routine democratic event; it is the most critical stress test since the fall of authoritarian rule. The question haunting the nation is simple but brutal: is this election a genuine democratic transition, or a recycled system wearing a new mask?

History is unforgiving toward post-authoritarian transitions. The period after strongman rule is always the most fragile—when public expectations peak and state institutions struggle to adapt. Bangladesh is living through that danger zone. After a year and a half, citizens’ hopes remain largely unmet, while old administrative habits, resistance to reform, and institutional inertia continue to dominate.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) describes this moment as an “ordeal by fire” for stability and electoral neutrality. According to its assessment, authoritarianism has formally ended, but its shadow still lingers deep within the state machinery. These entrenched forces weaken public security, delay decision-making, and steadily erode voter confidence.

Crucially, electoral neutrality does not rest solely on the Election Commission. It depends on the credibility of the entire transitional governance structure. And that credibility is now under strain—most visibly through the rise of mob violence.

Mob violence is not a random law-and-order failure. It represents a direct challenge to state authority. When the state cannot protect citizens, numbers replace law as the source of power. TIB’s warning is even more alarming: recent mob violence originated from the Secretariat itself—the very heart of state security. If control collapses at the center, the periphery needs no prediction.

The risks surrounding the election are clear. Administrative control is fragile. Informal pressure on field officials is a real threat. Polling centers may face intimidation, disruption, or capture through organized chaos. The post-election period—often the most volatile—could spiral into violence if results are disputed.

The government insists it has the capacity to manage the situation. TIB counters with a sharper diagnosis: the crisis is not about capacity, but about political will.

The July movement was supposed to be a turning point—a public warning meant to force reform in politics and bureaucracy alike. Instead, old alliances, entrenched interests, and bureaucratic resistance remain the dominant forces. Objections to the Consensus Commission’s reform proposals reveal where priorities truly lie: continuity of power over public interest.

Legal actions launched in the name of justice have increasingly taken on the appearance of retribution. Mass cases, prolonged detentions, and even murder charges against journalists have raised international concern. Meanwhile, accountability for corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion from the authoritarian era remains largely untouched—leaving justice dangerously incomplete.




#BangladeshElection #NeutralElection #PostAuthoritarianism #MobViolence #DemocracyUnderThreat #PoliticalTransition #BangladeshPolitics #ElectionExplainer




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