Hasina wins, but…: Low voter turnout and lack of credible opposition in Bangladesh aren’t good for the country or for India

With opposition BNP boycotting, there was little doubt that the 12th parliamentary polls in Bangladesh would hand Sheikh Hasina another term in office. But at just 41.8% voter turnout – it was 27% an hour before close of polls – many are questioning how participatory the election was.

A tortuous journey | Bangladesh’s road to democracy hasn’t been easy. There were periods of martial law. However, when Hasina returned to power in 2008, she reintroduced the original secular spirit of the Bangladeshi constitution. Under her leadership Bangladesh’s minority Hindus got access to key government posts. Good economic performance has put Bangladesh on the path to graduating out of the Least Developed Countries status by 2026.

Golden Indo-Bangla period | With her zero-tolerance policy towards anti-India forces, Hasina has also scripted a new chapter in relations with India. Both the land and maritime boundaries have been resolved. Connectivity has massively improved. Transit and transshipment have become realities.

Opposition vacuum | But Hasina’s ruthless crackdown on “anti-liberation” forces has hollowed out the opposition space. This has seen BNP and Jamaat leaders join Awami League at the grassroots level. In the latest polls, independents with 62 seats form the second-largest bloc. Many of them were reportedly dummy Awami candidates. The lopsided margins of victory of Awami candidates – cricketer Shakib Al Hasan won the Magura seat by a margin of 150,000 votes – reinforce the perception that only the governing party ticket can win.

Ominous trend | If more outsiders join Awami, Hasina’s secular vision will be compromised. And there’s no telling what will happen after her. The next generation of Awami leaders could become China’s allies. That’s an awful prospect for India. Also, Bangladesh becoming a virtual one-party state isn’t conducive to its own economic development. Bangladesh needs credible political opposition. Hasina needs it too. Her legacy should be that of a powerful anddemocratic leader.

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