The effort to eliminate the Bangladesh Awami League led to criticisms. According to multiple sources including the BBC and CNN, the uprising masses who led the ouster of the Hasina government in 2024, carried out the “Bulldozer Programs” that destroyed the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum — a historic building that carries the significance of the independence of Bangladesh — and many residential homes of the BAL leaders and its party offices across the country. They carried out the programs that aim to eliminate every sign of the ousted government saying it is a response to Sheikh Hasina’s repeated social media-based political directions that the interim government says ”provocation”. But it remains unclear whether such programs will bring any good at all.
But it is notable that the efforts to eliminate political parties, which are often reflective of political revenge, mostly do not bring any good outcomes, depending on the relevance of the party in any country. The elimination of political parties, especially the major ones, undermines democratic politics, leads to division among people, puts hindrances to the development of political institutions and fosters the development of autocratic politics many times, leading to concerns. Among others, such efforts are often associated with the continued repression of political leaders, arbitrary arrests and detention and the violations of other human rights that in turn lead to many other negative outcomes including the political polarization of the public administration and the lack of transparency and accountability.
Moreover, and pertinently saying, it is impossible to eliminate a political party like the Bangladesh Awami League, which remained outside the power for around 21 years but fought back successfully, from the politics in Bangladesh, if I am not wrong. This is mainly because of several reasons including the number of leaders and activists of the party from top to bottom, the percentage of supporters (probably around forty percent) and the political maneuver of its leaders. The elimination programs (including “Bulldozer Programs”) may also bring many other outcomes including the encouragement of the culture of political revenge and negative impacts on the public acceptability of the uprising leaders and their political endeavors.
Bringing genuine culprits to justice, if possible, is more desirable, not the elimination of the political party. This has a greater chance of making corrections in the wrongdoings of the past government, improving the extant political culture of Bangladesh and addressing various problems — including economic mismanagement. Notably, the interim government will leave someday but whatever will remain is its activities which will provide the due value it deserves. But such programs will also deteriorate the situation, putting challenges to making reforms, which have already been uncertain because of various causes including the preference of the BNP for an initial set of reforms, followed by an immediate election.
The ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government through the July-August mass uprisings raised hopes for better politics and improvements in other aspects. If the interim government can make some reforms, these will be beneficial for Bangladesh in the short and long run. While the interim government needs to take steps to keep the uprising masses refrained from such activities and improve the law and order situation, it needs to hold talks with political parties for reforms, which will need political support for legalization and implementation. Otherwise, things will go in the wrong direction, lead to political turmoil and make the uprising failed.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
