Washington: Uncertainty is mounting over Bangladesh’s upcoming elections as United States engagement declines and democratic support weakens, raising concerns about political stability in a country that directly impacts India’s regional security environment, according to a senior US lawmaker. Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, stated in an interview that he could not determine whether the February 12 polls would be free and fair.
Warner highlighted that US influence on the ground has significantly diminished following recent policy shifts. “With the dismantling of American soft power and USAID… we don’t have the same connections now that we had,” he said, referring to the Trump administration’s decision to shut down the US Agency for International Development. He noted that while there was initial optimism following the "revolution" and the emergence of Mohammad Yunus as a short-term caretaker, that hope has faded as the realities of governance have set in for the country's youth movement.
Regional dynamics are further complicating the situation, particularly regarding India. Warner observed potential friction stemming from former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina seeking refuge in India. “I’m not sure how much resentment on the Bangladesh side [exists], because I believe the former prime minister has still sought refuge… in India,” he noted. Despite these challenges, Warner expressed hope that the process would remain democratic, though he acknowledged that Bangladesh faces persistent pressures beyond politics, including poverty, economic stress, and environmental risks.
Addressing concerns about extremism, Warner urged caution against drawing broad conclusions based on isolated incidents. “We’ve not seen the radical Islamic ideology appear too much in Bangladesh,” he said. However, he placed Bangladesh within the context of India’s wider security environment, noting that "India lives in a dangerous neighborhood" with instability in Myanmar and Pakistan as well. He argued that the decline in US development engagement has strategic costs, as American power traditionally flowed not just through military and business channels, but also through development and democracy-building efforts.
(Inputs from IANS)