Experts at an international webinar have described violence and misinformation as the two main barriers to Bangladesh’s ongoing socioeconomic development led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
They sought wholehearted support from global friends for Bangladesh’s fight against violence and misinformation.
During the webinar held on November 6, they were of the view that sustainable democratic process as well as participatory and acceptable election are only viable when perpetrators of violence and disinformation are banished from the political process.
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Referring to Bangladesh’s rapid progress, especially in the infrastructure sector with the Padma Bridge, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Karnaphuli Tunnel, Metro Rail and Dhaka Elevated Expressway, the panelists of the webinar gave full credit to continuation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led government for 15 years.
The webinar titled “Violence and Misinformation: Barriers to Economic Prosperity in Bangladesh” was presided over by Councilman, Freedom Fighter, and Prominent Writer Dr. Nurun Nabi.
The five internationally recognized panelists who joined the event were: Professor Abdur Chowdhury, Professor ABM Nasir, security analyst Chris Blackburn, political analyst Seth Oldmixon, and senior researcher Dr. Mazharul Islam Rana.
The speakers highlighted the significant progress of Bangladesh in expanding the social safety net by introducing allowances for freedom fighters, elderly and disabled people, widows and the women abandoned by their husbands to bring millions of Bangladeshis out of poverty.
They also observed that Bangladesh could experience more progress if the BNP-Jamaat led opposition would not commit “anarchy and violence” during the period.
In this context, the panelists referred to the October 28 anti-government rallies by BNP-Jamaat in Dhaka, and said they unleashed mayhem in the capital by killing a policeman, torching and vandalizing several public and private vehicles and ambulances in a hospital, attacking the house of the Chief Justice, and injuring several journalists on the day Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Bangabandhu Tunnel in Chattogram, the first-ever underwater road tunnel in South Asia.
About the demand of the BNP-Jamaat led political parties for a caretaker government in Bangladesh, the speakers wondered why the parties asked for something unconstitutional.
They referred to the constitution and reminded that the elections should be held under the supervision of the Election Commission.
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Professor Abdur Chowdhury mentioned that Bangladesh was identified as one of the next top ten emerging economies of the world and this is a remarkable advancement from the war-torn country in 1971.
He, however, said Bangladesh has some challenges because of the current global socio-political situations, like the wars in Ukraine and Middle East, and advocated for economic and political stability in Bangladesh.
Chris Blackburn in his remarks cited a recent survey conducted by the International Republican Institute (IRI), and said that despite all of the current economic issues, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has 70 percent approval ratings.
Blackburn noted that BNP-Jamaat led “monopolized misinformation online” has a real effect on the economy of Bangladesh, so both the European and American partners should come forward to fight the disinformation campaign against Bangladesh.
Misinformation on social media is hurting Bangladesh socio-economically, and the BNP is continuing its campaigns of arson and disinformation, he said.
Dr. Mazharul Islam said that the anti-liberation evil forces had created the plot of Bangabandhu murder by spreading continuous misinformation, disinformation, and the same forces are still active under the guidance of convicted BNP leader Tarique Rahman, the convicted killers of Bangabandhu, and Jamaat.
Prof ABM Nasir urged the American policymakers to resist the rise of Islamic militancy and support Bangladesh as an example of progressive democracy and a model moderate Muslim country.
Citing the examples of series of violence soon after the BNP-Jamaat led coalition came to power in 2001, he mentioned their five-year misrule from 2001–2006 was the darkest chapter in the country’s history.
The BNP-Jamaat activists committed crimes against humanity during 2013-2015 by attacking pro-liberation activists, law enforcement agencies, religious and ethnic minorities, and progressive bloggers, while a similar pattern of violence has reappeared since the start of BNP-Jamaat's nationwide agitation programs on October 28, 2023, he said.
Prof Nasir urged the US policymakers that a sustainable democratic process and a participatory and acceptable election are only viable when the culprits of violence and disinformation are banished from the political process, otherwise, it will end up in an Afghanistan-style disaster.
Seth Oldmixon cited a study from the University of Dhaka and warned that violent extremists are quite active on social media platforms to recruit people and instigate violence in Bangladesh. To fight this misinformation campaign, he suggested starting a campaign with positive information.