Distinguished Professor Ali Riaz delivered a lecture at the University of Toronto Mississauga on the democratic backsliding in Bangladesh. Riaz’s talk titled, “Crossing the Rubicon: How Bangladesh is Becoming a One-party State” was organized by the Centre for South Asian Critical Humanities on February 13. Riaz argued that Bangladesh’s January 2024 election marks a watershed moment in the democratic backsliding of the country. The election delivered the fourth consecutive victory to Sheikh Hasina, the “iron lady of Asia.” The election, boycotted by major opposition parties, was preceded by a violent crackdown and intense machination by the ruling party. He insisted that the election has also transformed the country into a de jure one-party state. Riaz’s lecture discussed the pathway of the country’s quiet slide to autocracy and explored the future trajectories.
