OPINION | Political Engineering in Bangladesh: How the Interim Government Undermines Future Elections

By Aritra Banerjee

Bangladesh is witnessing a deepening crisis in governance and human rights under its interim government, as a series of calculated moves threaten the integrity of the country’s democratic future.

With the 2026 general elections looming on the horizon, recent actions by the interim authorities signal a dangerous trend of political engineering designed to manipulate electoral outcomes.

These include the systematic detention of opposition figures, selective release of convicted political allies, suppression of dissent, and the erosion of press freedoms and judicial independence.

This orchestrated campaign raises not only concerns for Bangladesh’s internal democratic trajectory but also poses strategic and moral challenges for neighbouring India, which has a vested interest in regional stability, democratic norms, and the protection of minority rights.

Political Engineering at the Cost of Democracy

At the heart of Bangladesh’s political turmoil is the interim government’s overt manipulation of political processes to consolidate power and delegitimise the opposition.

The most glaring manifestation of this is the indiscriminate detention of senior opposition leaders, including those from the Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and other dissenting political voices.

In the past year alone, hundreds of activists and opposition members have been arrested on dubious charges ranging from sedition to incitement, most lacking due process.

These arrests are often carried out under the Digital Security Act (DSA) and the Special Powers Act — laws widely criticised for their vague provisions and abuse potential.

By systematically crippling the political opposition, the interim government is ensuring that alternative voices are silenced long before electioneering begins.

Release of Convicted Politicians: A Double Standard

In stark contrast to the clampdown on opposition leaders, the interim government has selectively released convicted political figures closely aligned with the ruling dispensation.

These individuals, some of whom were serving lengthy sentences for corruption and violence, have been quietly rehabilitated into the political mainstream.

This strategic clemency serves two purposes: it replenishes the ruling regime’s political arsenal while broadcasting a chilling message to dissenters — that the rule of law is not applied uniformly, but wielded as a political weapon.

This practice not only undermines the credibility of the judicial system but also distorts the electoral playing field, allowing tainted figures with political clout to sway outcomes in favour of the regime.

A Compromised Judiciary and Press

The judiciary, which should serve as a bulwark against executive overreach, has increasingly come under the influence of the interim government.

High-profile rulings have routinely favoured the state, while bail pleas for opposition figures are delayed or denied without cause.

The shrinking space for judicial independence leaves the legal recourse for victims of political persecution virtually non-existent.

Simultaneously, the press in Bangladesh is under siege. Independent journalists face harassment, legal threats, and physical violence.

International watchdogs such as Reporters Without Borders and Human Rights Watch have noted the steep decline in press freedom in the country.

Media houses critical of the government are either forced to shut down or coerced into toeing the official line. In such an environment, informed political debate, vital for free and fair elections, is impossible.

Implications for Future Elections

The interim government’s political engineering tactics aim not just to secure short-term control but to structurally alter Bangladesh’s democratic framework.

By dismantling institutional checks, silencing the press, compromising the judiciary, and neutralising the opposition, the regime is laying the groundwork for elections that may have the veneer of legality but will lack legitimacy.

Without meaningful reforms, credible electoral oversight, and the reintegration of opposition voices into the political process, future elections risk becoming a farce: rubber-stamping a de facto autocracy.

India’s Role

As a regional power and the world’s largest democracy, India has a strategic and moral stake in Bangladesh’s democratic health.

Instability in Bangladesh can trigger a cascade of challenges, including refugee flows, cross-border insurgency, and the radicalisation of marginalised groups.

India’s longstanding cultural and economic ties with Bangladesh also make it an important partner whose domestic trajectory directly impacts regional harmony.

By encouraging democratic norms, supporting free media, and promoting minority rights in Bangladesh, India can play a stabilising role while upholding its commitment to democratic values.

Final Thoughts

The interim government in Bangladesh is engaged in a systematic campaign of political engineering aimed at undermining electoral fairness, silencing opposition, and consolidating authoritarian control.

Through arbitrary arrests, judicial manipulation, and suppression of free speech, the regime is rendering the upcoming elections a mere formality.

This internal crisis has serious external ramifications. India, as a close neighbour and democratic ally, must act now to encourage transparency, human rights, and democratic accountability in Bangladesh. Regional stability depends on it, and so does the moral fabric of South Asia.

About Author

Aritra Banerjee is a Defence, Foreign Affairs & Aerospace Journalist, Co-Author of the book ‘The Indian Navy @75: Reminiscing the Voyage’ and was the Co-Founder of Mission Victory India (MVI), a new-age military reforms think-tank. He has worked in TV, Print and Digital media, and has been a columnist writing on strategic affairs for national and international publications. His reporting career has seen him covering major Security and Aviation events in Europe and travelling across Kashmir conflict zones. Twitter: @Aritrabanned