Bangladesh's Paradox: Economic Boom Under Sheikh Hasina Overshadows Democratic Decline

6 hours ago7 min read4 comments

Bangladesh under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presents a stark political paradox, navigating a path where remarkable economic achievements coexist with a steady erosion of democratic freedoms. Her tenure since 2009 has overseen a period of unprecedented economic growth, with GDP expansion consistently outpacing regional peers, dramatic reductions in poverty, and landmark gains in public health and gender equality.However, this developmental success story is increasingly shadowed by the systematic consolidation of one-party rule. Successive national elections in 2014 and 2018 were widely criticized by international monitors as deeply flawed, characterized by the absence of credible opposition, allegations of electoral manipulation, and the use of state resources to ensure victory for the ruling Awami League.The government has aggressively curtailed civil liberties, employing laws like the Digital Security Act to target journalists, suppress dissent, and silence critical media, fostering a climate of self-censorship. The primary opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has been effectively marginalized, with its leadership imprisoned, exiled, or entangled in a web of legal challenges.This pattern of democratic backsliding has prompted a recalibration of international relations, leading the United States and other Western nations to impose targeted sanctions and visa restrictions on officials accused of undermining democratic processes. The central dilemma for Bangladesh is whether its economic momentum can be sustained amidst the suffocation of political pluralism and fundamental rights. Sheikh Hasina's legacy is thus being forged on an anvil of contradiction: celebrated as the visionary behind the nation's economic ascent, yet accused of presiding over the methodical dismantling of its democratic foundations.

#Sheikh Hasina

#Bangladesh

#authoritarianism

#economic progress

#democracy

#leadership

#featured

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