Bangladesh’s Fragile Democracy Faces Crucial Test Amid Islamist Surge and Exile Politics
As Bangladesh holds its first election since the 2024 uprising ousted Sheikh Hasina, rising Islamist influence and political exile raise red flags for democracy and regional security.
On Thursday, more than 127 million voters in Bangladesh cast their ballots in what is arguably the most consequential parliamentary election since the dramatic political upheaval of 2024. This election is not just a contest for power—it is a referendum on the very survival of democratic governance in a country long plagued by political turmoil and authoritarian tendencies. The collapse of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government amid mass protests marked a watershed moment. Hasina’s flight to India and the subsequent ban on her party reveal the deep fractures within Bangladeshi politics. But does sidelining a familiar autocrat guarantee freedom?...
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