Communication breakdown

This op-ed by Nawrin Sultana, published in the Dhaka Tribune on August 24, 2024, analyzes the rapid collapse of Bangladesh's Awami League government under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after 15 years in power. The author argues that the downfall was primarily caused by a catastrophic failure in political communication rather than organized opposition or a military coup. The piece traces the crisis from its origins in student protests over a discriminatory civil service quota system, through Hasina's inflammatory labeling of protesters as "traitors," to the government's subsequent escalating responses including internet shutdowns, violent crackdowns on students, and a refusal to acknowledge legitimate grievances or apologize. The author contends that these actions severed trust between the government and its citizens, ultimately costing the regime its legitimacy within just 15 days. The article concludes with a broader lesson for democratic governments worldwide: that effective, honest communication with citizens is essential to maintaining power, and that suppressing dissent through force and rhetoric inevitably accelerates a government's downfall.

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Dhaka Tribune

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Dhaka Tribune

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