Soul of Bangladesh

In their eagerness not to be compared to Pakistan, the Bangladeshis have failed to notice that they are slowly creeping towards a situation subtly comparable to Pakistan and that if they are not careful, the military would soon begin to play a decisive role in the country’s politics.

Surely, the two-ladies must share their part of the blame for letting things come to this point. The misuse of power and ill-conceived policies rarely bring fruit. For example, the BNP strategically encouraged the Jama’at and other extremist factions.

- Dr Ayesha Siddiqa

First, the military has consolidated its corporate culture, which means that the organisation is building cohesion within itself; which it lacked earlier. Along with this, the military has also become more conscious of its interests.

Second, a gap has emerged between the people and the political leadership. The politicians have become more intensely authoritarian.

Third, there is the development of an equally predatory middle class which is willing to use the military as a secondary partner to change.

Bangladeshis might argue that their society is different.

First, the army does not necessarily have to come directly into power.

Second, the Bangladeshi ruling-elite are no different from others; when we look at the manner in which it has sought to use authoritarianism to its advantage.

The people no longer take active interest in politics nor do they offer their lives to stand up for right against wrong. The Bangladeshi state at this point is very close to getting on the track of Pakistan’s politics.

> Ayesha Siddiqa is the author of Military Inc, Inside Pakistan’s Military Economy.

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