Distinguished Professor Ali Riaz has been interviewed by the Parallax webcast titled “Behind the Ballot,” of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS) of India, on the recent general elections in Bangladesh and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the country and its government.
Riaz underscored that the government will continue to face the moral legitimacy as the election was neither free nor fair and was boycotted by the opposition. On the issue of India-Bangladesh relations, Riaz said that there is unprecedented discontent among many Bangladeshis about India’s role in Bangladesh’s politics and the unequal relationship between these two countries. Indian government has supported the Hasina government since 2009, despite the regime’s poor human rights record and democratic erosion, according to Riaz.
He also spoke about the relationship between Bangladesh and Myanmar, especially in the wake of the gains made by the insurgent group called the Arakan Army (AA) in the state of Arakan, bordering Bangladesh. He insisted that Bangladesh needs to revisit its policy towards the AA and the Myanmar military junta.
