By R. Hassan, TON Bangladesh
Since the start of this year the Bangladeshi opposition parties, especially the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), have been staging rallies throughout the country. All this shows that Bangladesh has experienced political instability. The ruling Bangladesh Awami League (BAL) formerly held a monopoly on organizing political rallies and has cracked down on public demonstrations by opposition parties in current years. The presence of opposition on the street with hundreds of thousands of people joining opposition rallies sign of change in the country’s political prospects. In reply to the protests, the BAL has arranged transport slowdowns to discourage citizens from joining the mass demonstrations. The incumbent government is being alleged for even being attacked rally participants and impose restrictions on the flow of information.
It is clear that Bangladesh’s growing economic crisis has contributed to the growing political discontent, the upsurge in public demonstrations reflects the increased anger about the BAL’s tyrannical style of governance and fears about how it may handle the general elections scheduled for the upcoming general elections. The escalating skirmishes between the government and the opposition may likely lead to sharp ferocity in the coming months. The worsening economic crisis is forcing a large pool of disgruntled citizens who will look for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to register their grievances, while the ruling party seems to keep the situation under its control by hook and crook.
Bangladesh is facing a growing financial crisis, which has increased political instability. Fresh protests began after the government proclaimed price hikes to the fuel and energy sectors in August, snowballing instant fuel prices by more than 50 percent. The extraordinary hike came on the heels of the growing costs of necessities since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. As the decline in foreign exchange reserves, a descending trend of payments, and a trade shortage show hard times ahead. Price rises have reached their highest as compared to past decades. According to a World Bank report, Bangladesh has experienced the highest price hike of essentials among the five South Asian countries.
Continuing blackouts have reached unparalleled levels, as government offices, banks, and even schools are now being closed more regularly for energy cuts. Power outages have increased after a national grid failure in early October, which left 80 percent of the country in the dark for hours. Fuel shortages render Bangladesh’s power plants impracticable, producing severe load-shedding disturbing industrial production, and contributing to price hikes in daily necessities and wages.
The mounting protests have weakened the BAL’s apparent control over the administration and politics, Elections in 2014 and 2018, were described by international media and observers as highly rigged. Human rights groups are alleging the increasing incidences of human rights violations under her administration since 2009, such as extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. The outgoing Chief of the UN Human Rights Council raised concerns during her visit to Bangladesh in August 2022. The United States Treasury imposed sanctions on the elite police force called the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and seven of its current and former officers in December 2021. Since the beginning of these demonstrations, the government has increased the persecution of opposition activists and critics: for example, in July and August, offices and houses of opposition leaders were ransacked, several activists died, and thousands have been arrested. However, the demonstrations have still gained strength, as revealed by the magnitude of the recent gatherings. Opposition parties have also claimed that they will not join the election under the government-led BAL. The incumbent government is in not ready to accept this demand.
Holding elections under a neutral government is more necessary than ever. However, the condition is no different, as the police continue to act in favor of the BAL. A fair and comprehensive election in Bangladesh is improbable unless the government reforms to ensure a level playing field. Growing discontent with the economy and frustrations about authoritarian governance are pushing the citizens to the verge of collapse. While the incumbent government seems intent on confronting the opposition with force. Upholding the status quo means more crackdowns on the opposition and the suppression of rebel voices in the coming months. All these trends in Bangladeshi politics are increasing the economic anguish of ordinary people in Bangladesh.