One party dominance is "not working well" for Bangladesh ... If Awami League did it for 15 years --- BNP may get that kind of upper hand from February

In Democracy, the opposition needs to be strong. It need not turn into a saboteur. 

The media serves as a watchdog and a 'good opposition' in parliamentary democracy or even in other forms may highlight and even probe on government wrongdoings, alleged corruption cases and check the misuse of power.

These in the end help elected government, the executives the ministers and officials and other institutions including the military, police and even judiciary more accountable to the public.

Bangladesh is experiencing democracy since 1991. But the experience has not been all that good. 

Between 2008 and 2024 -- that is under Sheikh Hasina, it is stated that fewer than one percent of bills were substantively scrutinised and altered through opposition objection and inputs. 

The media too seldom could do the job sincerely either by default or design.

In the process; the critics of Hasina regime would say the opposition parties most often stayed away from elections and hence the parliamentary chambers. The opposition politics too shifted from parliament or elected bodies to the streets. 

This was a dangerous pattern and deeply flawed.

In India too there are certainly some major fault-lines. But overall especially at the central level - that is Parliament things are running well. In the 1990s the Parliamentary Standing Committees were introduced with the personal interest of the then Lok Sabha Speaker Shivraj Patil. 

Congress veteran V N Gadgil once told me - he was surprised when the then Leader of the Opposition Atal Bihari Vajpayee during a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs actually approved the policies of the Rao government.

Now in the context of Bangladesh; the opinion makers say there is a need to constitutionalise the opposition. 

This means --- granting the opposition leader in parliament statutory status and resources.

** It also must give chairmanship to opposition parties for key oversight committees.

*** In India at present; Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is the chairman of the panel on foreign ministry. 

In effect the government of the day will have to "forge a social contract" that establishes parliament as the effective arena for any political struggle.

People do say -- when they quarrel with somebody on the streets of in offices - "we will see you in court". The same way -- Bangladeshi politicians should encourage one and another to say -- "we will see you in Parliament". 

In effect -- the ideal 'stage' for a healthy democracy that Bangladesh should try to get is --- an opposition that keeps an eye on Government and that also scrutinizes those people in power. There should be "elected leaders" who govern properly. - 

Also enlightened and active judiciary and professional army, bureaucracy and police.

It's a fact that mass uprising of 2024 was a call for the institutionalisation of rules-based governance. The mistake was in allowing a man to sit on chair - who did not have political experience but also someone who did not mind being a puppet and has been highly ambitious as a power hungry individual.

Jaishankar with BNP leader Rahman and others 

Like in India or for that matter in Pakistan; Bangladesh’s bureaucracy is also a direct descendant of the colonial system  designed by the British Raj to extract revenue and control subjects.

 Serving citizens was never a priority. Gradually; this turned sick and a disease by itself. As Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was out ... but all the bureaucrats associated with her fascism also continued under the interim regime. This has contributed to a larger mess.  

I was interviewed by 'The Raisina Hills' on Bangladesh mess recently.

This was one part of my response to a question.

"The Yunus regime is continuing with the same babudom Hasina left. Hence that same “fascist hegemony” continues by default. The bureaucracy has found new ways to survive, and they are also teaching the new rulers, students and Yunus himself and his young team the tricks to continue in office. They have promised elections; but they have also banned Awami League".

This is what New Delhi has highlighted as they keep speaking about "inclusive election".

Even if it gets a landslide win; tougher days await BNP and it's not without good reasons.

ends