Bangladesh's Quiet Coup: Elections as a Military Performance
📰 THE STORY: Al Jazeera probes the enduring influence of the military in Bangladesh's political landscape, even after the 'end' of overt military rule, suggesting that recent elections might be more façade than genuine democratic expression. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: Bangladesh has a brutal history of military coups and political assassinations, often with tacit or
explicit backing from Western powers during the Cold War and its aftermath. The 1975 assassination of founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family, followed by a series of coups and counter-coups, solidified the military's role as a kingmaker. Just like in Latin America, these destabilizations served to prevent genuine socialist or non-aligned development, keeping the nation pliable to
external interests. Double Standard: Western media outlets often decry 'authoritarianism' in nations like Bangladesh, yet remain remarkably silent on the historical role of Western intelligence agencies in installing or maintaining military regimes that protect corporate interests. When a US-backed coup takes place in Latin America (e.g., Chile 1973, Bolivia 2019), the military is framed as a
'stabilizing force.' In Bangladesh, the military's pervasive influence is treated as an internal democratic deficit, rather than a legacy of geopolitical machinations. Follow the Money: The Bangladeshi military is a significant recipient of foreign military aid and participates heavily in UN peacekeeping missions, which in turn secures its institutional power and revenue streams. For instance, the