Politics in Bangladesh becoming increasingly complex

Politics in Bangladesh is becoming increasingly complex, confused and decaying. Leaderlessness, lack of ideology, and a decline in morality are now the inevitable features of the country’s political landscape.

Dissatisfaction over mass uprising
At one point, the mass uprising held in July 2025 was thought to bring forth a new leadership. Many saw hope in the slogan of the youth breaking the chains; but within a short time, that light has dimmed. Internal divisions, immature strategies and a hasty, unprincipled approach have called the entire movement into question.

The dreams and aspirations with which people took to the streets have now turned into a tragic image of failure. In this situation, despair is only natural. People now ask—was this the change for which the youth shed their blood? The system they roared against has not collapsed; rather, it has re-emerged with a new mask and a more mature face. Just as imperialism and global capital are aggressively active, internal politics is witnessing a feudal reorganisation of power.

Duplicity of Sarjis Alam
In this context, when Sarjis Alam, someone close to the government, says that "until justice is done, the government should not think of anything else", his words though logical are not believable. Because he was the very one who previously opposed exhuming the bodies of the mass uprising martyrs from their graves for post-mortem. Yet when burials were done in Gopalganj without post-mortems, the government was later compelled to exhume the bodies and carry out post-mortems. So why this exception in the case of the July martyrs?

Safe distancing and ‘tagging culture’
Now it is not just the state, but the so-called progressive and NGO-oriented people, through ‘tagging culture’ in social media, are suppressing freedom of expression. Anyone voicing dissent is being tagged. This culture has taken the form of a kind of ‘cultural terrorism’ where speaking the truth means inviting social outrage upon oneself. Members of civil society and the cultural circle are now busy protecting themselves by maintaining a safe distance. If you are a Mujibist, say it clearly. If Awami progressivism is your ideal, don’t hide it. But those, who wear the mask of progressivism and remain silent against injustice, are the ones truly standing with the oppressor.

Judiciary and state repression policy
When it comes to the judiciary, we return to the same issues; structural weakness and political influence. To suppress the movement, the government has introduced a culture of ‘blanket cases’, leading to thousands being detained without trial. Some have been denied bail for 11 months. In this situation, how independent can the judges be? If the shadow of the state falls on every courtroom wall, then justice is hard to expect. As a result, judges are either silent or habituated to safe decisions.

Breakdown of BNP and alternative forces
Most worrying is that a large mass party like the BNP is now organisationally and politically weak. On one hand, repression by the state machinery, and on the other, internal divisions have made the party practically paralysed. The linguistic, psychological and organisational gap between the grassroots and the central leadership is becoming increasingly pronounced. Due to grouping, distrust, and lack of coordination among BNP rank and file, Jamaat and Islamist forces are once again stepping into the field.

Imperialism, diplomacy and an uncertain future
Bangladesh is no longer a neutral state. India, China, the United States and other powers are desperate to keep the country within their sphere of influence. As a result, we have become a ‘multi-aligned’ state—without a diplomatic policy of our own, only reactions. Taking advantage of this international strategy, the government is weakening democracy in the country and establishing its legitimacy through the story of development; but this compromising politics is most damaging to the ordinary people.

An undeclared conspiracy: PR election and ruler’s trickery
The government wants, at any cost, to hold the next national election under the PR (proportional representation) system. The aim is clear—to provide a path for around 150 candidates of Jamaat, NCP and Islami Andolon to enter the Parliament. This will present the government as ‘tolerant’, and create a space for compromise with fundamentalists. If PR cannot be implemented, the election will be postponed—by creating some excuse. Maybe violence, maybe a state of emergency, or delay in the name of a fake dialogue.

Suppose, under the existing voting system, BNP comes to power; but they will find that the state system has been so structured that it will be practically impossible for them to run the country. Administration, economy, law—all will remain under someone else’s control. Then either they themselves will move towards a new election again, or they will fall in another uprising.

Both these outcomes are part of a politics of vengeance practiced for a long time. Yet outside of this, there is an easier, honourable and just solution—a neutral, people-trusted electoral framework where people will have confidence on the administration, election commission, judiciary and security forces. But perhaps this path is not in our fate.

The way out: Courage, education, organisation
There is no shortcut out of this crisis. What we need are:

1. Moral courage: The willpower to speak the truth and stand firm
2. Political education: citizens must learn, and make others understand
3. Organisation: politics is not done on Facebook—it is done in the field, beside the people

Because of the lack of these three, movements fail, alternative leaderships do not emerge, and the chances of victory against repression disappear.

Let not deceit be our future
The ‘tough politics’ declared once by a military ruler is now a reality. But it is possible to break this toughness if we walk the path of truth-speaking courage, political organisation, and just struggle. The people are still awake. Dreams are still burning in their hearts. Let that dream not be betrayed again—let this be the mantra of our struggle. I have said it many times, and I say it again—peace will not come to this country in our lifetime.

We will die shouting for peace and stability. We do not know what our children will inherit. Will they grow up like us—in confusion, gunfire and betrayal? Or will they one day build a new Bangladesh on the foundation of true peace and justice? We don’t know. We only know—we will disappear, shouting.

Habib Imon: Columnist