Sultana Article on Building Democracy in Bangladesh Published in LA Progressive
May 27, 2025
LA Progressive
“Democracy After Dictatorship: Bangladesh’s Generational Reforms Demand Global Partnership,” written by Farhana Sultana, professor of geography and the environment, was published in LA Progressive. Following is an excerpt:
Global superpowers such as the U.K., U.S. and the EU must resist the temptation to fall back on India-centric diplomacy when engaging with Bangladesh. This is a pivotal moment for principled partnerships – not realpolitik.
Here’s what global partners can do:
- Endorse the Reform Roadmap: Recognize and support that the Interim Government is undertaking complex structural and systemic reforms that go beyond surface-level change, but aim for sustainable democracy with strong institutions.
- Support Accountability: Urge India to end safe harbor for alleged war criminals and push for international mechanisms to counter disinformation. Support fact-checking and ground-truthing narratives around Bangladesh.
- Invest Equitably: Facilitate investments and collaborations that align with Bangladesh’s development goals while upholding democratic principles. Prioritize investments in labor-friendly, climate-resilient sectors aligned with Bangladesh’s long-term goals.
- Assist in Asset Recovery: Provide legal and diplomatic frameworks for repatriating stolen public wealth.
- Listen to Bangladeshis: Foster people-to-people engagement to cut through misinformation and understand what’s truly at stake.
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