EDITORIAL | Bangladesh Needs Support to Mount Free and Fair Elections

Japan cannot afford to simply sit on the sidelines when upheaval occurs in Asian nations and regions. Clashes between anti-government student protesters and security forces in Bangladesh left many dead and injured. After that, Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed resigned and left for India.

A transitional government led by Nobel Peace laureate and economist Muhammad Yunus has since been formed. Furthermore, general elections are due to be held soon.

Within Bangladesh, we have witnessed notable instances of violent reprisals against individuals close to Hasina. The conflict has exposed many fissures in the country. Now the interim government must do whatever it can to repair the divisions in the country and hold free and fair elections.

As Bangladesh's largest donor, Japan should actively cooperate to bring this about.

*Muhammad Yunus, chief advisor to the interim government, arrives at the airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh on August 8. (©Reuters)*

Why the Protests?

The protests were sparked by objections to the preferential employment quotas given to relatives of soldiers who fought in the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. These demonstrations began peacefully. However, they turned violent when the Hasina government used shotguns and rifles in a vain attempt to quell them. According to the United Nations, nearly 650 people have died since July. They were victims of the protests or the chaos following the collapse of the government.

Hasina is the eldest daughter of the country's first president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. She returned to the prime ministerial position in 2009 after stepping down once.

While in office, Hasina attracted foreign investment and developed large-scale infrastructure such as railways. Nonetheless, students complained that the economic benefits went largely to individuals linked to Hasina's ruling party.

During this January's general election, some 20,000 opposition leaders and their supporters were detained. That led to a large-scale boycott of the election.

*Protesters clash with security forces in Dhaka, Bangladesh on July 19. (©Reuters/Kyodo News)*

Why Bangladesh is Important

Bangladesh is strategically located at a point connecting Southeast Asia and South Asia. It has traditionally been a pro-Japan nation. Additionally, it has proved itself a key partner in the free and open Indo-Pacific concept proposed by Japan.

Economic ties with Japan are also strong. Around 330 Japanese companies have established a presence in Bangladesh. Furthermore, in April of 2023, the bilateral relationship was upgraded to a "strategic partnership."

*Then- Prime Minister Hasina meets with foreign journalists in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in January 2024. (©Reuters/Kyodo News)*

How Japan Can Help

There are many areas in which Japan can provide support to help restore order. It can dispatch election observer teams and assist in implementing judicial reform, which is a priority for the interim government. Hopefully, the Japanese government will swiftly determine where it can help effectively.

We also need to be concerned about what China does. In recent years, China has been accelerating efforts to get closer to countries on the periphery of India. For example, in July Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Hasina in Beijing, and the two countries announced their intention to strengthen bilateral ties.

There is a risk that China will take advantage of the chaos surrounding the transition of power to strengthen its influence. We must be on the alert for such a possibility.