Bangladesh is readying for the 12th Jatiya Sangsad elections slated for January 7 amid much enthusiasm. The election is vital for continuing the ongoing development of Bangladesh, scheduled to graduate from LDC countries in 2026. The election also came under the international geopolitical spotlight as the USA and its satellites kept pressurizing the government to hold a free, fair, and participatory election though the government and independent Election Commission repeatedly assured that they would do so.
There have already been many discussions on the issue of political division and provocation based on various comments of foreigners on our internal affairs.We have seen in the past, and we are seeing it again in the run-up to the elections, that the USA and the rest of the Western world always express unwanted concerns under the guise of democracy, freedom of speech, political stability, human rights, and so on. This is not only disgusting, but it also goes against every diplomatic etiquette. Because every nation has a unique culture, social structure, and economic system that sets it apart from others. So, national interest-related activities and national political events ought to be decided by the people of the country.However, we have noticed that foreigners frequently make remarks on the internal affairs of geopolitically significant governments with diplomatic, national, and geopolitical interests in mind.
The structure and form of politics in the subcontinent is unlike any other part of the world. There is nothing as negative as Africas frequent spread of dictatorships or the shadow of military rule. Democratic system is running here. But within this democratic system there are divisions; Which is a sad reality. As a result, the political culture of the subcontinent has not developed accordingly. Rather than institutionalization, emotive decision-making prevails in politics. Despite this drawbacks, the regions political achievements are not less. The political history of the subcontinent testifies that we wrested independence from foreigners through democratic political processes. Foreigners have never solved any of our problems. On the contrary, it provoked many problems.
Geopolitically, when the United States becomes active in a region, Russia also increases its activity in many ways. The field of this struggle for supremacy is now Bangladesh. Recently, Russia and the United States are in a confrontational position over Bangladesh around the 12th National Parliament elections. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova has accused US Ambassador in Dhaka Peter Haas of aiding the opposition parties to hold anti-government protests in Bangladesh. Russia has made clear that Washington is interfering in the domestic politics of Bangladesh. In response to the statement of Russian spokesperson Maria Zakharova, US Embassy spokesperson Stephen Evely said in a press release, "The United States does not support any political party in Bangladesh and does not favor any political party." He also said, "Russias statement on Bangladesh is part of their continuous misinterpretation. However, the way a diplomat of one country criticized the diplomat of another country through a statement is unprecedented. This is a great proof of how much the importance of Bangladesh has increased in the geopolitical struggle.
India typically a US ally, Russia, and China, asserted that the election is Bangladeshs internal affair, diverging from the US perspective. Indias Foreign Secretary, Vinay Kwatra, said that India had explicitly told the USA that Bangladeshs politics and elections are strictly domestic affairs, and India did not believe any kind of action in this area to be justified in the interests of regional stability. France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, Norway, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Japan each have unique visions, strategic goals, and priorities regarding Bangladesh. Despite alignment on various global issues, the United States finds itself different on the Bangladesh election and labor rights matter. The EU takes a distinct approach to labor rights, with ongoing progress noted during the EU GSP review teams recent visit. CharlesWhiteley, the EU ambassador, emphasizes cooperation with Bangladesh until 2032 to address labor rights issues in the EU market. The EU maintains an independent expert team in Bangladesh to assess electoral issues.
It is not unclear that foreigners often comment on Bangladesh for the sake of geopolitical conflict. United States and China are one of the leading economies in the world. The conflict between the United States and China is increasing. India is the biggest rival to prevent Chinas expansion in South Asia. The relationship between India and the United States is now very good. Despite that, Bangladesh has added importance in terms of geopolitics and geo-economy.Not only that, Bangladeshs development model of economic growth is well received by the leaders of the East and the West. Bangladesh has become self-sufficient and is now working to solve various global problems in unique ways. Due to infrastructural development and positive progress in various sectors of the economy, Bangladesh is no longer a dependent state. However, if the political crisis worsens, it will harm the countrys economy and progress.
The development of the country is desired by all. Development of the country means development of peoples life, development of quality of life.Politicians take the lead in accelerating this development.But when there are divisions among politicians, it becomes difficult to play the role ofnation making. When political parties announce conflict-violent agendas, public fear as well as suffering increases.The strike-blockade program in the name of democratic political rights continues to increase the suffering in the lives of common people.
Finally, in the present context Bangladeshis need unity. They have to solve their problems as a whole. Allowing an outsider to intervene risks further divisiveness. If a third party is needed in the discussion, it should be chosen from among themselves. Only constructive dialogue and public-spirited political programs can bring about positive change.
The writer is a security and strategic affairs analyst
