Unresolved Factionalism in Bangladesh: NGO Attempts To Hold National Dialogue

The Nagorik Samaj civil organization of Bangladesh recently came under fire on February 11 from the Awami League (AL) and its 14-party alliance for its attempts to hold a national dialogue involving their bitter rivals, the Bangladeshi Nationalist Party (BNP). The organization had recently reached out to the country’s President and Prime Minister, hoping that their concerns regarding Bangladesh’s latest series of political violence would be addressed. To this, the ruling Awami League and its 14-party alliance have struck back furiously. Affiliates have claimed that the civil organization was not only being unrealistic in its proposal to negotiate with violent instigators, but worse - that it was seeking positions of political power. The contention here arises from continued civil strife in major cities that have now resulted in a death toll of sixty-nine and thousands more arrested. The instigators have predominantly been supporters of the BNP  who feel that they have been “robbed” in the last general elections in 2014, during which the Awami League alliance helmed by leader Sheikh Hasina won a landslide victory after the BNP had decided on boycotting the elections.

Protestors, however, concluded that a low turnout in the elections meant that Bangladeshis supporting the Nationalist Party were unable to vote, due to the boycott or otherwise. Disgruntled Bangladeshis have since demanded that the newly elected government hold new multi-party polls. The simmering political tensions erupted earlier this year. On January 5th, the one-year anniversary of what BNP terms “democracy killing day”, the day of the last election, clashes between the two factions quickly became bloody - with two deaths and 15 injuries, while BNP leader Khaleda Zia was confined to her office under ruling party orders. Despite her confinement, she has spoken favorably of the protestors.

This “dysfunctional two-party system”, is also clear from the AL-led government’s refusal to accede to pleas for dialogue. Equating the protestors to Razakars, war criminals and terrorists, the ruling party has rejected all requests of talks outright. Granted, mass rallies have rarely been peaceful. Since the outbreak in January 5, over 200 buses have been torched, contributing the most to the mounting number of casualties. “Any such dialogue would be a compromise with terrorism and violence,” quipped Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmend at Dhaka University two weeks ago. “The fire-terrorists too, have to surrender like the Razakars and the war criminals.” It is clear that the party of the “haves” are expecting a full capitulation from the arsonists and the high-profile opposition leaders who allegedly promote such acts.

Efforts to crack down on the unrest have been as consistent as they have been alarming. Khaled Zia’s office, the epicenter of the protests, is blockaded by the government with 11 trucks. The protesters outside of her office have been suppressed with water cannons. A month since the earliest protests, most BNP officials are in prison, along with up to 10,000 independent activists. To further stifle future protests, the AL-led government has jammed messaging apps such as WhatsApp, citing its role in the facilitation of mass rallies. The growing repression has marginalized various civil rights.

In addition, the Awami League’s refusal to hold fresh elections has led observers to worry about the factionalism that has plagued the country’s short history. Rivalry between Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina dates back to 2006, during a time mired in accusations of rigged elections targeted at both parties. Constant efforts to undermine each other created a winner-take-all political environment that saw the opposition up in arms after losing an election. Ruling governments have only dealt with an opposition working not alongside it, but out in the streets. In arguably the most corrupt country in the world, lawlessness after every election cycle weighs heavily on groups such as Nagorik Samaj.

It is paramount that this two-party gridlock comes to a close. And although the ruling party acknowledges the need to curb prolonged violence, it does not seem to realize its contribution to a detrimental stalemate. Despite its disagreements with the ruling AL-led government, it is important that BNP leaders refrain from inciting further protests, arson and blockades which have drawn major cities to a standstill. Resolving this problem would not be easy, but reaching an agreement would be the first step necessary for setting the country on the path to recovery.