Latest piece (link below) on Bangladesh’s elections after 2024 July Revolution that led to the fall of India-installed former Bangladeshi fascist Awami League-Hasina government.

The piece touches on the dilemma of both duopoly form of one-party state and the rigged system that mains South Asia’s elected monarchy system. The elections may be have been, de jure - in technical sense - fair or legal but de facto, in effect, is rigged: the country’s entire media machine gave favorable coverage to BNP with very little pushback if any, hardly challenging BNP during election and without asking tough questions, including on critical defence and foreign policy matters. No hard questions were asked by the media on corrupt past of many of the wealthy politicians standing as MPs. (Many are the usual wealthy legacy politicians with a dark/controversial past. Nor tough questions asked even on those candidates who hail from background of dark legacy family wealth eg a candidate son of a controversial billionaire notorious arms dealer with enterprise that is akin to alleged “modern slavery” and “human trafficking” dressed up as “labour export”. To the contrary, the media was asking Jamat much tougher (and often prejudiced) questions on its traditional Islamic/Muslim leaning identity. No probing questions asked on fact that there’s commonly held suspicion (rightly or wrongly is another matter) among the public, not least those of Dhaka 8 seat, on BNP’s passivity behind Osman Hadi’s murder, with the candidate being another billionaire. And last but not least, BNP’s billionaire class and business tycoons - many who migrated from past Awami League support base - having massive war chest to *de facto* “bribe” the voters in the run up to the election, by paying for provision of basic services in the local areas that should’ve been provided for by the local government. In other countries, in the run up to election, several months ahead of election, politicians and prospective candidates are not allowed to pay using private funds for charities or privately spend to facilitate local providing services which could’ve been provided by the government. This is what we call here “benefit-in-kind” election bribe. Do read the piece below and feel free to comment is open for all, both for paid and free subscribers.