Bangladesh’s Democratic Future Depends on How Political Parties Exercise Power

In this interview with the ECPS, I offer a nuanced assessment of Bangladesh’s post-2026 political transition. Reflecting on the first general election after the 2024 uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina, I argue that a landslide electoral mandate alone cannot resolve the country’s democratic deficit. What matters, I emphasize, is whether “procedural legitimacy, constitutional legitimacy, and sociological legitimacy are present.” I warn that preventing a “reverse norm cascade” depends less on electoral formalities than on how political actors behave in power—especially the ruling party. Stressing trust, institutional restraint, and freedom of criticism, I argue that Bangladesh’s democratic future will hinge on whether political parties govern responsibly, inclusively, and within genuinely pluralist constitutional limits. [The video version of this interview is available on the ECPS Brussels YouTube channel.]