B’desh has repeatedly succeeded in removing authoritarian rulers but struggled to establish durable democratic institutions, journalist Mahfuz Anam said, citing political divisions, institutional politicisation and the failure to sustain credible election systems as major challenges facing the country.
Bangladesh has demonstrated a strong ability to dismantle authoritarian regimes but has struggled to establish and sustain democratic institutions, according to Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of leading Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star.
Anam made the remarks while addressing a conference on the Bay of Bengal Conversation organised by the Dhaka-based Centre for Governance Studies, according to local media reports.
Reflecting on Bangladesh’s political journey, Anam said the country had repeatedly shown its capacity to unite against authoritarian rule. However, he argued that the unity that emerges during struggles against dictatorships often disappears once the immediate political objective has been achieved.
“We are so good at dismantling dictatorships, but the tragic reality is that we are so bad at building democratic institutions,” Anam said.
He explained that political groups and sections of society often come together when confronting an authoritarian government. Once the regime is removed, however, those same groups frequently become political rivals, making it difficult to transform the collective energy generated during a movement into lasting national institutions.
“The very groups who worked together to dismantle the dictatorship then become each other’s enemies,” Anam said, stressing the need to develop mechanisms capable of bringing different groups together after political transitions.
Anam also referred to Bangladesh’s political history, particularly the fall of military ruler Hussain Muhammad Ershad and the restoration of parliamentary democracy in 1991. According to him, Ershad’s removal and the return to democratic governance created widespread expectations that Bangladesh was entering a new democratic era.
He said the country subsequently held several credible elections under caretaker administrations. However, the caretaker system and the broader democratic framework were not sufficiently institutionalised to ensure lasting political stability.
“Instead of institutionalising fair elections, we got more and more into conflicts, rivalries and then destruction,” Anam said.
According to the journalist, one of the fundamental reasons behind the weakness of Bangladesh’s democratic institutions is excessive politicisation across the country’s public institutions and professional sectors.
“We have over-politicised every institution imaginable,” Anam said, adding that such politicisation had weakened the effectiveness and credibility of institutions.
He pointed to several professions and institutions where political divisions have increasingly influenced public life. Doctors, for instance, are expected to provide medical services without political discrimination, while journalists depend heavily on public trust and professional independence for their credibility.
“In a profession where credibility is your lifeblood, how can you openly side with a political party and still expect that you will enjoy credibility?” Anam questioned.
He also raised concerns over the functioning of law enforcement and oversight bodies. According to Anam, police forces have frequently been used as partisan extensions of political power, while intelligence agencies have been employed for political purposes.
He further criticised the politicisation of institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Commission, which he said are expected to operate independently and serve broader constitutional and public interests.
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Anam’s remarks highlighted a broader challenge facing Bangladesh: the transition from political movements that remove authoritarian governments to democratic systems capable of functioning independently of political parties. His assessment emphasised that holding elections alone is not sufficient to establish a durable democracy unless institutions are strong, independent and trusted by citizens.
The comments come amid continuing discussions in Bangladesh over democratic governance, institutional independence, political competition and the credibility of electoral processes. Anam’s assessment suggested that strengthening institutions and reducing partisan influence will remain central to the country’s efforts to build a sustainable democratic system.
