Is Bangladesh Facing a Deepening Democratic Crisis?

Dhaka, Sep 14 (NationPress) Following the collapse of Sheikh Hasina's administration in August, Bangladesh is currently experiencing a significant surge in political turmoil. The temporary government, under the leadership of Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, had initially committed to a rapid reestablishment of democratic order.

However, as highlighted in an op-ed by Eurasia Review on September 11 titled “A Nation On Trial: Bangladesh Arrest Surge Threatens Democracy”, the commitment to restoring democracy has been overshadowed by a systematic campaign of surveillance, repression, and silence.

Months have elapsed without a clear electoral roadmap, and instead, the nation is witnessing an alarming increase in arbitrary detentions and the criminalization of peaceful civic engagements.

In Tejgaon, nine individuals were apprehended for voicing support for Hasina during an impromptu procession.

What should have been safeguarded as free expression was redefined as “sabotage,” granting authorities legal justification for detaining participants. This crackdown extends well beyond mere street protests.

As noted by Eurasia Review, “even symbolic acts of dissent are now perceived as threats to national security.”

Mahila Awami League leader Nahida Noor Sweety was located and arrested after quietly attending a post-prayer gathering. Accused of funding protests, her situation exemplifies the regime’s strategy to intimidate symbolic leaders and deter even subtle forms of mobilization.

Targeted are also intellectuals and former bureaucrats.

Abu Alam Shahid Khan—a veteran of the Liberation War and former press secretary to Hasina—was detained for participating in a roundtable discussion on constitutional reform.

His arrest, along with those of Professor Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, law professor Hafizur Rahman Curzon, and journalist Manjurul Alam Panna, highlights what the article describes as “a deliberate attempt to eliminate the space for civil discourse.”

Student leaders like Sheikh Ibne Sadiq and Amir Hamza have faced imprisonment due to their associations with banned political factions. According to the op-ed, these arrests are “not aimed at public safety—they are calculated strategies to dismantle the organizational foundation of opposition politics.”

Even instances of violence are being manipulated to rationalize widespread crackdowns. Following altercations at Chittagong’s Saltgola Crossing, where a police officer sustained injuries, authorities apprehended 19 individuals and filed charges against dozens more—many of whom remain unnamed.

Rather than isolating the offenders, the state exploited the incident to indiscriminately detain political activists, transforming isolated acts of violence into a mechanism for oppression.

The overall effect is a pervasive atmosphere of fear. As warned by Eurasia Review, “Bangladesh is not merely stifling dissent—it is redefining the boundaries of legitimacy.”

Citizens are now reluctant to express themselves, organize, or participate in political discussions.

Widespread self-censorship has emerged, and silence is often misinterpreted as stability. The article closes with a blunt admonition: “Only a free, fair, and inclusive election can initiate the healing process. Without it, the nation risks further descent into authoritarianism, rendering democracy a mere relic of the past.”