Can Bangladesh's New Leader Bring Change After a Landslide Win?
In a surprising turn of events, Bangladesh's recent election has seen a dramatic shift in power, with the opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), securing a landslide victory. This marks a significant departure from the decades-long dominance of the Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina. But can the new leader, Tarique Rahman, bring about the much-needed change the country desperately seeks?
Two years ago, it seemed unimaginable that Hasina's grip on power would be broken so abruptly. Yet, here we are, witnessing a rare political cycle where the BNP, under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, has emerged victorious. This is a first for the BNP, as Rahman is both the party's new head and a first-time election contestant. His mother, Khaleda Zia, who passed away last year, had been the party's leader for four decades, taking over after her husband, Ziaur Rahman, the BNP's founder and a key figure in Bangladesh's independence war, was assassinated.
Tarique Rahman, accused of benefiting from nepotism during his mother's rule and facing corruption allegations, returned to Bangladesh five days before her death after a 17-year self-imposed exile in London. While he has occasionally stepped in as the de-facto chair of a weakened BNP when his mother was imprisoned or ill, he is still largely seen as an untested leader.
Despite this, political scientist Navine Murshid believes that Rahman's lack of prior experience could be an advantage. She explains, "People are willing to give change a chance. They want to believe that new, positive things are possible. So, there is a lot of hope."
The BNP's top priority is to restore democracy in Bangladesh. Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, a senior BNP leader, stated, "We need to restore all democratic institutions and financial institutions that have been destroyed over the last decade."
However, Bangladesh has a history of broken promises, with parties becoming increasingly authoritarian once in power. The country's youth, who played a pivotal role in the 2024 'July uprising' that ousted Hasina, seem less tolerant of this pattern. Tazin Ahmed, a 19-year-old participant in the uprising, emphasizes, "The stepping down of the previous prime minister was not the victory. Our main victory will come when our country runs smoothly without corruption, and the economy is strong."
Her cousin, Tahmina Tasnim, adds, "We want unity among the people. We have the right to a stable nation and economy. We know how to fight back if needed."
Since Hasina's ousting, violence has plagued Bangladesh's interim leader, Mohammad Yunus. The new government must prioritize law and order, revive the economy, reduce food prices, and create jobs for the country's large youth population. Sociologist Samina Luthfa notes that the lack of government experience affects all parties.
The Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, banned twice in Bangladesh's history, including under Hasina, has won a significant number of seats for the first time. Its alliance partner, the National Citizens Party (NCP), formed by uprising leaders, has won six seats in its debut. Luthfa comments, "We will see leaders in parliament who have never been there before. The NCP youngsters have much to learn, while the others are seasoned politicians but lack country management experience."
Jamaat's manifesto, secular and development-focused, makes no mention of Islamic law. However, its website states, 'Jamaat performs in the political arena because Islamic law can't be implemented without political force,' raising questions about its potential actions if it ever comes to power.
Murshid explains Jamaat's performance, "They are a very organized political party that has worked tirelessly at the grassroots level for decades. But they are inherently anti-democratic, misogynistic, and patriarchal."
Luthfa highlights the underrepresentation of women in politics, with only 4% of candidates being women. She says, "All political parties have failed to translate the collective agency of women into the formal political and electoral arena."
Despite the BNP's victory, the Awami League's exclusion from the election has cast doubt on its credibility. When asked about supporting the Awami League's return, Chowdhury replied, "It's not for us to decide. The people will decide the Awami League's role in Bangladesh's future politics."
From her exile in India, Hasina has labeled the election a 'deception and farce' and called for a fresh election allowing the Awami League to participate. While public anger against her party is high, Bangladesh's political history reminds us that it's too early to write off the Awami League forever.
