Bangladesh Deserves A Credible Election, Not a Doctored One
Professor Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen
Former Foreign Minister of Bangladesh
Former Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations
Bangladesh Is Not Ready for a Credible Election — The World Must Not Ignore the Warning Signs
Bangladesh stands on the brink of a deep democratic rupture. The current political trajectory threatens to push the country toward prolonged instability, institutional collapse, and widespread human-rights violations. As a former Foreign Minister and a long-time diplomat of the United Nations, I must speak plainly: a credible election cannot take place under the present conditions.
The world must not stay silent.
1. A Major Political Party Is Banned — A Violation No Democracy Can Justify
The ongoing ban on the Awami League, Bangladesh’s largest political party with millions of supporters makes any election inherently illegitimate.
Banning a party is not democratic reform; it is political engineering.
Under international law, particularly the ICCPR, the right to participate in political life cannot be arbitrarily withdrawn. Yet today, thousands of Bangladeshi citizens face:
•Criminalization for peaceful political association
•Restrictions on assembly and expression
•Intimidation and detention
•Silencing of their political identity.
This is incompatible with democratic norms and constitutes a serious breach of fundamental freedoms.
2. The Country Is Polarized and at Risk of Further Unrest
The political trauma of last year’s unrest has not healed. Communities remain fearful. The social fabric is fragile.
To hold an election in this environment is not only irresponsible, it is dangerous.
A rushed election risks:
•Public confrontation
•Political violence
•Erosion of state legitimacy
•A crisis of authority that could destabilise the entire region
Bangladesh, with its 170 million people, cannot afford another national shock.
3. Institutions Have Lost Credibility
Transparent elections require strong institutions. Bangladesh’s institutions; the Election Commission, law-enforcement bodies, and parts of the judiciary — are struggling under unprecedented political pressure. Many processes lack independence, public confidence, and operational readiness.
Elections without institutional integrity are merely ceremonial exercises, not democratic transitions.
4. Selective Enforcement and Double Standards Are Undermining the Rule of Law
Reports from international and domestic rights organisations highlight:
•Unequal enforcement of laws
•Politically motivated cases
•Arrests targeting only one side of the political spectrum
•Use of anti-terror legislation against peaceful citizens
This selective justice is incompatible with the principles of fairness that define a credible election.
The international community cannot overlook these disparities.
5. Bangladesh Needs Time, Stability, and Dialogue — Not a Forced Election
Bangladesh is facing record corruption, economic hardship, governance breakdown, and unresolved political tensions. Rushing into elections without addressing these structural challenges will not strengthen democracy — it will fracture it further.
Democratic legitimacy cannot be manufactured under pressure.
A Call to the International Community
I urge international partners — including the United Nations, the Commonwealth, the European Union, G77 & China, OIC and AU member states, and global human-rights organisations — to adopt a clear position:
Bangladesh must not hold an election that excludes major political actors, violates basic freedoms, or risks renewed violence.
The world has a responsibility to help prevent a crisis, not legitimize it through silence.
What Must Happen Before Any Election
To restore credibility, the interim authorities must:
1. Immediately lift the ban on political activities, including the ban on the Awami League.
2. Release political detainees and journalists held under broad and inconsistent charges.
3. Initiate an inclusive national dialogue facilitated by neutral mediators.
4. Strengthen the independence and capacity of the Election Commission.
5. Allow international observers full access to the pre-election environment.
Without these steps, an election will be neither free, nor fair, nor acceptable to the Bangladeshi people or the global community.
Conclusion
Bangladesh is at a pivotal moment. The decisions taken in the coming months will shape our nation’s stability, democratic future, and global reputation for years to come.
As someone who has represented Bangladesh on the world stage for decades, I say this with clarity and conviction:
A credible election in Bangladesh is impossible under the current political restrictions.
To force one now is to court disaster.
To delay one until conditions are fair is to protect and uphold democracy.
Let us choose the path that upholds justice, inclusivity, and the will of the people.
