Bangladesh emerged as an independent state in December 1971. The force of the circumstances was striking: to witness the greater part of a federal country breaking away from its smaller, dominant part. We accepted the disintegration of the country without any remorse or meaningful introspection to identify the political, economic, and federal policy blunders that alienated Bengalis and confronted us with such disgrace and humiliation. Exactly six years later, we returned to our well-treaded path of military rule and political gerrymandering that continues to overshadow the political landscape of this helpless nation of 250 million.

After secession, Bangladesh had its share of nightmarish political experiences, leading to the brutal assassination of the entire family of Shaikh Mujeeb, barring Hasina Wajed; the takeover of power by generals; the alternating rule of the two strong women – Begum Khaleda Zia and Hasina Wajed; and the latter’s long and authoritarian rule, along with her vindictive indulgence in the indiscriminate persecution of her political opponents, particularly the hanging of senior leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami on charges of collaboration with the army of Pakistan during the war of independence. All this authoritarianism, coercive rule, and acquiescence in the hegemonic dominance of India sparked intense public protests, forcing Hasina Wajed to flee the country.

Notwithstanding the economic stability the country achieved during the long rule of the Awami League, Prime Minister Hasina Wajed’s authoritarian style of rule eroded plural political culture, democracy, representative governance, the rule of law, and trust in national institutions, including the Election Commission and the judiciary, with all those phoney judicial tribunals and accountability courts established for the trial of political opponents.

As public protests gathered steam, the national army declined to be part of further violence and coercion to be perpetrated on the........

© The Friday Times