More than 40 people killed and hundreds injured injured in political violence so far.
Is Bangladesh heading towards disaster?
One of the world’s largest democracies in the Muslim world seems to be descending into chaos, with violence, strikes, transport blockades and business instability adding to an already strong sense of tension. While Henry Kissinger was wrong to describe Bangladesh as a “basket case” in the mid-1970s - it has for the most part been more than capable of feeding itself since independence - there is nevertheless a strong feeling that the country may not escape an equally damaging epithet - that of a “failed state”. Bangladesh’s latest problems stem from a not unexpected but decisive announcement by the Awami League - and around 18 smaller parties allied to it - that they will boycott general elections due later this month. Fears are now growing that the future of the country and its 150 million population are now at stake.
Mutual loathing
After last week’s momentous boycott announcement by the Awami League leader, Sheikh Hasina, more violence and social unrest are very much on the cards. The animosity between her and the leader of the other main party, Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), seems to be as great as ever. The two women are bitter rivals and barely speak to each other. Their mutual loathing is reflected among their respective sets of supporters. Bangladesh is one of the most politically polarised countries in the world, even though the actual policy differences between the two largest parties do not amount to anything significant. But the ceaseless bickering and violent confrontations have meant that the Bangladeshi economy - already fragile - is coming under further pressure. That is bad news when millions in the population barely earn more than $1 a day. The country is now reeling under a three-day transport blockade called by Sheikh Hasina as part of her campaign to demand a delay in the election and the removal of officials overseeing the vote who she describes as “biased”. **More than 40 people have been killed and hundreds more injured in political violence since a caretaker government - designated by the constitution to oversee the vote - assumed power at the end of October to steer the country through parliamentary elections. **Ominously, the Awami League-led alliance has not only pledged to boycott the election but has also promised to resist the voting. If that happens, there will be a campaign of mass protests by the anti-election parties. In turn, the pro-election parties will try to gain control over the streets - and direct confrontations will be inevitable.