Elections belong to the people, not the politicians

This opinion article, published in The Daily Star on August 5, 2026, argues that Bangladesh's upcoming elections must genuinely reflect the will of its citizens rather than serve the interests of political elites. Written by political commentator Azman Rahman, it frames the 2024 uprising against Sheikh Hasina's government as part of a historical pattern — alongside 1971 and 1990 — in which Bangladeshis have repeatedly risen against suppressed democratic rights. The article's main topics include: the urgency of holding free and fair elections (with the chief adviser targeting February), concerns about political parties pushing for delays or threatening boycotts, the economic and social costs of ongoing instability (including a poverty rate approaching 28%), and the structural reforms needed for credible elections, such as an independent Election Commission and politically neutral security forces. The author warns that further electoral manipulation risks repeating the cycle of public unrest, and emphasizes that with over half the population under 35, restoring faith in democratic participation is critical to Bangladesh's future stability and international credibility.

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The Daily Star

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The Daily Star

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ark:/19160/s64x56aqftbcxlf2cev5al2zrly

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