Deconstructing Bangladesh Politics

A report of the Dipankar Chakraborty Memorial Discussion (21 March 2025), organized by APDR

Recently, two young journalists, Arka Bhaduri and Arka Deb, provided insightful observations on the recent developments in Bangladesh politics from a wider perspective. They participated in a discussion organized by the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) in honor of the late Dipankar Chakraborty, a teacher-activist from West Bengal and editor of the radical Bengali magazine Aneek.

Arka Deb focused on the exploitative operations of the Modi-Adani-Hasina power triangle in Bangladesh

Arka Deb initiated the discussion by focusing on the exploitative operations of the Modi-Adani-Hasina power triangle in Bangladesh. He argued that the Modi-Adani power equation took shape in Gujarat at the beginning of the 21st century in the wake of the anti-Muslim pogrom in the state. He emphasized that Gautam Adani built his business empire in different countries by aligning with India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi. According to Deb, the exploitative and non-transparent business operations of Adani & Co., combined with India’s geopolitical ambitions, have fueled strong anti-India sentiments in neighboring countries, particularly in Bangladesh. He cited strong evidence to argue that the Sheikh Hasina regime is highly corrupt, with the ruling coterie siphoning off vast sums of money to foreign countries and investing in real estate there.

Arka Bhaduri remains hopeful about a revolutionary upsurge in Bangladesh

While Arka Deb explained the decline of the Hasina regime in Bangladesh in terms of popular resistance against crony capitalism and India’s geopolitical hegemony, Arka Bhaduri examined the turbulent political situation in present-day Bangladesh in the context of the country’s long history of revolutionary and counter-revolutionary upheavals. He reminded the audience that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was physically absent during the blood-stained freedom struggle (Muktiyuddha), emerged as a nationalist icon after Bangladesh’s liberation. He argued that dissident groups were silenced by the Mujib government during its authoritarian rule. In this context, he mentioned that the leader of the Maoist group Siraj Sikder, who founded the Purba Banglar Sarbahara Party in 1971 and fought militantly against the authoritarian regime, was arrested and brutally killed by Mujib’s police. He further contended that Sheikh Hasina legitimized her authoritarian rule by capitalizing on the martyrdom of her father and the constructed legacy of the Muktiyuddha.

Bhaduri believes that predicting the future of Bangladesh’s politics is difficult, as diverse forces are involved in the anti-Hasina mobilizations. However, he remains hopeful about a revolutionary upsurge, as he has recently witnessed the revival of Siraj Sikder as an icon in Bangladesh’s student movement.

Report by Arup Kumar Sen

Image courtesy: Altaf Ahmed, Biswendu Nanda