Distinguished Professor Ali Riaz has published a commentary on the takeaways of the Bangladesh election held on January 7, 2024. The election, boycotted by the opposition and with a very low voter turnout, has been described by the international media as not free and fair and seriously flawed. The commentary titled, ‘What Bangladesh’s widely boycotted election reveals about its future’, is published in the New Atlanticist of the Atlantic Council. Riaz argued that there are five takeaways of the election. These are: The election has transformed Bangladesh into a one-party state; The turnout figures can no longer be trusted; People resoundingly rejected the exercise; The United States’ half-hearted actions fell short; And the opposition is vindicated—but faces a tough road ahead. Riaz has noted that considering that the election was uncontested, the result was not a surprise and the victory of incumbent Sheikh Hasina, and her party was a foregone conclusion, but events around the election and the fault lines that were revealed could have ramifications for Bangladesh in the weeks and months ahead.
Riaz publishes on takeaways of Bangladesh 2024 election
