Duncan Bartlett writes for DOT :
Democracy is like a precious crop. It needs to be carefully nurtured in order to flourish. In Bangladesh – a country with a recent history of political assassinations, coups and war – democracy is still developing. Its roots have not yet grown very deep.
I am concerned that there are forces which are undermining Bangladesh’s democracy, both within the country and abroad. And ironically, some respected institutions which express concern about Bangladesh’s future may also be preventing the roots of its democratic system from gaining a firm foundation, exposing it to further danger.
Expert guidance
I have enjoyed spending time in Dhaka, where I have discussed the recent election with journalists, politicians and lawyers. In general, I was impressed by their optimism. All of them agreed that the election on December 30th 2018 was a good way of measuring the country’s mood. I was encouraged to watch the evening talk shows on television, where lively debates took place between representatives of all the parties. It was soon apparent that critical voices were not silenced and hard questions were asked.
Reading through the Bangladeshi newspapers and websites, I was also impressed by the efforts of the reporters to explain political issues to ordinary citizens. The media emphasised that even the poor, marginalised and illiterate have the right to make decisions about their country’s destiny. No-one could complain that voters were disenfranchised or lacked many sources of information about politics. It was a visceral, national debate; no wonder it was often heated!
When I asked one influential Bengali journalist if he felt the vote was “free and fair,” he challenged me to name a country where elections are perfect. He pointed out that even in mature democracies – such as Europe and the United States – populists and autocrats exploit the democratic system to gain power. He claimed that in Bangladesh, enemies of the state seek validation by winning seats in parliament.
Limited choice
Of course, real democracy is about more than just voting. For an election to have value, people need to be able to make meaningful choices between parties which have the capacity to manage the affairs of their country. I am not convinced that the voters in the recent Bangladesh election were presented with such a choice.
One indication of this is that the leader of the Jatiya Oikya Front, Dr Kamal Hossain, did not himself stand for office. I understand that he feels the opposition were deliberately sidelined and mistreated. He has claimed that the process was “farcical”.
Be that as it may, the opposition struck me more as dissenters rather than potential leaders. A minority of their followers have a reputation for corruption and extremism. They do not seem to be a group who are fully committed to nurturing Bangladesh’s young democracy.
Mixed signals
When the newly elected members of parliament, including Prime Minister Sheik Hasina were sworn in, the seven opposition members stayed away, further isolating them from the political process.
Yet with a few days, Dr Kamal’s associates from the opposition alliance – Gonoforum leader Sultan Mohammad Munsur and his party colleague Mukabbir Khan – suggested that they have had change of heart and will take their place as elected members of the eleventh parliament.
I hope that they do so soon. It seems a sensible compromise and should quieten calls for another election.
Expensive Process
I recognise that there are important questions about whether some ballot boxes were stuffed or whether candidates were sometimes intimidated.
However, for Bangladesh to go to the polls again would be expensive, impractical – and would surely only create further social division.
If there were to be another election – this time through an entirely legitimate and transparent process – would the fundamental choices facing the voters be much different? Another election would not inspire Bangladesh’s civil servants, educators and soldiers to greater patriotism and commitment. It is better to allow them to continue with their duties and help to push forward the national development agenda.
Shadow of violence
The United Nations has expressed concern about the violence which took place in the election period. “There are worrying indications that reprisals have continued to take place, notably against the political opposition, including physical attacks and ill-treatment, arbitrary arrests, harassment, disappearances and filing of criminal cases,” the UN said. It is entirely appropriate for a respected body such as the UN to press countries to uphold high standards in elections and to condemn violence.
Yet I am afraid that in many parts of the world – especially within Asia – elections tend to increase divisions based on religion and other factors. So, is it correct to assume that the surge in violence was political? And to put the figure of 17 reported deaths into context – more than 4,000 people were killed in traffic accidents across the country last year, according to the BUET Accident Research Institute. Only a few of those tragic deaths made headlines.
The United Nations has called for an independent and impartial investigation into the election process. I wonder if this is achievable. My hunch is that whoever is appointed to lead the inquiry, there will be plenty of critics who challenge its legitimacy. Just like holding another election, launching an inquiry into the electoral process risks creating more division and unrest.
Tribalism
Bangladesh politics all too often descends into tribalism and partisanship. This sometimes feeds discrimination and violence. The country needs leaders who have the moral strength to rise above this. They must recognise that they are chosen to serve for the sake of the country, rather than for the glory of their party – or their tribe.
These leaders should formulate solutions to Bangladesh’s problems, rather than focus on rhetoric or ideology. Political integrity is measured not by party loyalty but by how effectively representatives carry out their responsibilities after they have been elected. Now is the time to allow the country’s divisions to heal and to support the new parliamentarians in their duties as servants of the people.
Duncan Bartlett is the Editor of Asian Affairs magazine and a former BBC World Service correspondent. He was in Dhaka for the December 2018 election campaign.