As MP for Rochdale, I proudly represent a large number of
constituents of Bangladeshi origin. Because of this connection, I was honoured
to be asked to speak this week at the Sixth Council of the Bangladesh Nationalist
Party on the subject of democracy.
Sadly, my address was less of a rousing speech and more of a
solemn eulogy.
That is because, to put it bluntly, democracy in Bangladesh
in dead. And unless something is done to revive it, the UK and our allies will
rue a missed opportunity.
Pressure is building among Bangladesh’s 150 million people
and there is a real risk this frustration will turn to violent protest and mass
civil unrest. As we have seen in Syria, it is in chaotic circumstances like
this that extremist groups like ISIS can thrive. The tragic attacks in Brussels
this week are a stark reminder of the terrible consequence of allowing that to
happen.
By some narrow measures, Bangladesh might seem to be a
nation in the ascendancy. The country made great strides to alleviate extreme
poverty as part on the UN’s Millennium Development Goals project.
But behind this recent success lies worrying allegations of
repression of free speech and serious human rights abuses.
The country’s last general election, in January 2014, saw 21
people killed amid unprecedented levels of violence. Due to a widespread
opposition boycott, the ruling Awami League comfortably won almost 80% of seats
in the Parliament. Turnout was just 22%.
Since then, political intimidation, disappearances and a
culture of fear have become commonplace.
The Non-Governmental Organisation Human Rights Watch has
criticised the Bangladeshi authorities for use of excessive force.
Law enforcement agencies have been accused of the
extrajudicial killings and disappearances of political opponents of the
Government.
A gagging order has banned the media from publishing
statements by key opposition figures.
The judiciary has been politicised and is being used, not to
serve justice, but to provide political results.
The private sector is also suffering. Entrepreneurs are
crowded out as the Government allegedly gives preferential treatment to just a
handful of favoured businessmen. This is stifling investment. Instead of
Bangladesh economic growth being in double figures it remains stubbornly low,
hovering around 6%.
The events of January 2014, and the subsequent Government
repression, has done serious damage to the Bangladesh economy and its standing
in the world. Millions of its citizens have been left disenfranchised and
unrepresented.
But why should the UK and the wider international community
care, and what can be done?
Britain and Bangladesh share significant cultural, political
and commercial ties. In Rochdale, and in towns and cities across the UK, the
Bangladeshi community make a great contribution to our economy and our culture.
Our countries are both part of the Commonwealth family with
its shared values of human rights and the rule of law.
Britain showed its support in 1971, when Bangladesh was
being born, while other nations opposed the country’s separation from Pakistan.
Since the very beginning we have demonstrated our shared belief in Bangladeshi
democracy and we have a duty to help stand up for those principles now.
But there is another consideration which should concern all
of the world’s developed powers.
History teaches us that oppressed people will eventually
take the law in to their own hands if they believe their Government is failing
them. If that happens, more lives will be lost and protests will get
increasingly out of hand.
When people are stopped from speaking up, debate is
curtailed and there becomes less space in which to speak. This vacuum can, for
some small groups of people, get filled with extremist views.
The fallout from such unrest could destabilise the region
with knock on effects for international security, the global economy and mass
migration.
As the situation in Bangladesh gets worse, the voice of
British politicians must get louder. British Government Ministers have to start
making their concerns clear, not just in Bangladesh, but also in the European
Union and in the Commonwealth. It is time for the international community to
seriously consider economic sanctions until true democracy returns.
Bangladesh is an ambitious and industrious young nation with
great potential. It is up to us to intervene during this time of turmoil to
ensure that that potential is not wasted.
Courtesy: Personal blog of Simon Danczuk, Rochdale's MP.
