Propaganda on fear of Islamist takeover in Bangladesh

BNP flag with people

As the government is heading for a general election in Bangladesh marginalizing the opposition BNP by taking nearly 25,000 of its activists to jails and sentencing several thousand of them in ‘explosives’ and ‘sedition’ cases to disqualify them from elections, a vested quarter has started fabricating a story of danger of Islamist takeover in the country.

It’s true that the main Islamist political parties, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islam and the Islami Andolan Bangladesh are now in movement along with the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to secure free and fair election under a non-party government, but none of them have either threatened or are in positions to stage a takeover by the use of their political clouts or any other plausible means.

Why then is the propaganda? One reason might be to co-ex the government into taking stern action, as has been taken against the BNP, to subdue them. If the propaganda gathers steam an excuse might be found to violate their right to freedom of speech, expression, freedom of association and assembly. 

One of these parties, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islam, has already been affected by the cancellation of its registration with the Election Commission by the Supreme Court. Significantly weakened by the elimination of its top leadership in war crimes cases, they can no longer take part in elections until the registration is restored.    

Islami Andolan Bangladesh on the other hand has been distancing itself from blockade or general strike programmes that its leaders consider not compatible with their politics, although they are waging movement for free and fair elections simultaneously with the BNP-led opposition. They cannot be expected to propagate capture of power through unconstitutional means.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party is well-known for its professing of liberal democracy. During the current phase of movement the party has taken extra pains and suffered as it took precaution to remain non-violent in the face of all provocations. Its leaders have in the eyes of the people succeeded to demonstrate that they are not ‘arsonists’ a label that they have been given since their early 2015 blockade programme. 

During the last two years of the present phase of movement, the BNP organised unprecedentedly large public gatherings at district, division levels and in capital Dhaka. But there was no instance of instigating the large assemblies of people to attack government offices or public property. Their supporters came to rallies braving all types of obstacles and, after the rallies were over, went back home silently and peacefully. 

So, wherefrom vested quarters sense an Islamist takeover in Bangladesh? Is the propaganda intended to further harden the attitude of the government towards the opposition? More action against them can only create a society devoid of opposition which nobody would want. Stepping into this trap would seal the fate of democracy in Bangladesh. All concerned should view the aforesaid propaganda keeping this in mind.