THROUGHOUT Bangladesh鈥檚 history, the political landscape has been consistently shaped by efforts to establish a dominant-party system. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a central figure in the independence movement, who initially championed people鈥檚 rights, ultimately veered towards authoritarianism. Others, who followed Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, also sought to consolidate power and aimed to dominate through their political parties, controlling elections until his regime was overthrown by a political revolution. The BNP did so and faced criticism for attempting to hold a less participatory election in 1996 and for planning a one-party election in 2007, which led to military intervention. More recently, the Awami League under Sheikh Hasina has managed to secure three consecutive elections with minimal opposition, reinforcing Bangladesh鈥檚 status as a dominant-party state and prompting many to view Hasina as an authoritarian leader. This raises the question: why have political parties consistently pursued a dominant-party system in Bangladesh and shown such scepticism towards the mandate of the citizens? The following discussion will explore some key reasons behind this phenomenon.
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Corruption
EVERY political party in Bangladesh frequently speaks of creating a 鈥楽onar Bangla鈥� (golden bengal) and promoting good governance, yet their time in power often tells a different story. Despite their rhetoric, each party has been surrounded by a network of leaders and businesspeople who prioritise their own personal and institutional interests, leading to widespread corruption within the government. As elections approach, this history of corruption from their previous term often results in efforts to dominate the electoral process. They tend to restrict the opposition鈥檚 ability to engage freely in politics and focus less on genuine political competition, undermining the democratic process and ensuring their continued hold on power.
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Transparency
CORRUPTION is intrinsically tied to the lack of transparency in governance. When a government is steeped in corruption, it becomes inherently fearful of transparency, knowing that open scrutiny would expose their misconduct. A typical pattern emerges when a new government takes office: they immediately highlight and publicise the corruption and financial mismanagement of the previous administration, using it to justify their mandate. However, this very fear of exposure drives the incumbent government to cling to power at all costs. They become increasingly desperate to maintain control, avoiding transparency and accountability, which often leads to chaotic power struggles and instability. This cycle of corruption, fear, and the relentless pursuit of power perpetuates a state of disorder within the political system.
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Political commitment
LEADING political parties in Bangladesh often believe that five years is insufficient to fulfil all the promises they have made to the citizens, and they hope that securing another term will solidify their popularity. Major infrastructure projects in Bangladesh, such as the Jamuna Bridge and the Padma Bridge, have historically taken 8鈥�12 years to complete, highlighting how an unstable and frequently changing government can delay development. To avoid such delays, these parties become determined to stay in power. However, due to corruption and a lack of transparency, they often lack the confidence to win re-election through fair means, leading them to resort to underhanded tactics to retain power.
Moreover, major political parties like the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party typically come to power with the support of allied parties 鈥� such as the Awami League鈥檚 14-party alliance and the BNP鈥檚 four-party coalition. They make commitments to distribute power and resources among their allies, but five years is often not enough to fully honour these promises. As a result, we frequently see governments reshuffling ministers and state ministers throughout their term, trying to appease their coalition partners by reallocating ministries. This ongoing process fuels their desire to secure another term in office, believing that only then can they fully deliver on their commitments and maintain their alliances.
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Insecurity and lake of political good relations
THE historical interrelationships between political parties in Bangladesh have been marked by deep-seated antagonism and rivalry, often driven by significant ideological differences. The Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, for example, have long engaged in intense political conflict. The Awami League often portrays the BNP and its allies as anti-national forces that would turn Bangladesh into a replica of Pakistan, while the BNP accuses the Awami League of being willing to sell out the country to neighbouring India. This mutual distrust extends to other parties as well, such as the extreme antagonistic relationship between the Awami League and Jamaat-e-Islami, where both parties view each other with deep insecurity.
This pervasive sense of insecurity and lack of trust among the political parties makes it nearly impossible for them to create a participatory political environment. Instead of fostering open political competition, these parties are consumed by the fear that their opponents will undermine or destroy them if given the chance. As a result, they rarely allow their opposition the freedom to engage in politics without interference. This lack of cooperation and understanding drives the ruling party to adopt a dominant-party system, where they consistently try to suppress and solicit opposition forces, ensuring their grip on power remains unchallenged.
Following the unprecedented student revolution and the subsequent collapse of Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 16-year autocratic regime, a nationwide conversation has emerged among communities and stakeholders in Bangladesh, focussing on the need for comprehensive reforms across the country鈥檚 political and institutional structures. The general consensus is that, for Bangladesh to truly embrace a democratic future, political parties must foster cooperative and constructive relationships with one another. This would involve the creation of a genuinely participatory political environment where all parties have an equal opportunity to engage in the political process.
In addition to fostering inter-party collaboration, there is a pressing need for strict adherence to transparency, responsiveness and accountability in all aspects of governance and political activities. The executive, legislative and political spheres must be brought together under a unified framework where each branch can operate independently yet collaboratively within a culture of accountability. This framework would ensure that every entity, from government officials to political leaders, has the freedom to fulfil their duties without interference while being held accountable for their actions. Such a reformative approach is seen as essential to rebuilding trust in the political system and ensuring that Bangladesh can move forward as a truly democratic nation.
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Syed Mohammad Arfatur Rahaman is a research associate at Innovation and Development Associates Foundation.