Khaleda sentenced

For years the average Bangladeshi has regretted the lack of political choice: the options usually boiled down to one of the two Begums, Khaleda Zia or Sheikh Hasina. The 2013 general election was different: Khaleda Zia stood down and Sheikh Hasina swept the field. Fewer than half of the seats were contested. This is not a good augury for democracy but, surprisingly, Bangladesh has withstood the absence of an opposition and has, in fact, done better than expected: the Islamic militants are on the run or have been executed and the economy has been in a sweet spot for the past three years with over 7 per cent growth. The sentencing of Khaleda and her heir-apparent son on Thursday rules her out for the second successive general election.

The stability of Bangladesh was fortuitously enhanced after the US backed the wrong horse, Khaleda, in the 2013 elections. It then vented its frustration and asked for fresh elections, forcing the new PM, Sheikh Hasina, to explore alternative options. All the new relationships she forged have stood her in good stead: with India, all security headaches are now over. Both countries have a clearly marked land boundary and have exchanged fugitive criminals, including Assam’s most wanted Anup Chetia. With China, Hasina has sought help for strengthening the infrastructure and the navy while Russia is building a nuclear plant, a symbol of immense national importance for Bangladesh.

The execution of a string of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders whose cadres acted as Khaleda’s strong armed boys in the countryside has further weakened the opposition. New Delhi will have no reasons to regret that because during Khaleda’s tenure as PM, Bangladesh had become an acquiescing party to forces destabilising parts of India. Hasina has admittedly brought back the country from the brink: militants were once powerful enough to effect 500 bomb explosions near 300 locations within half an hour. Yet, Bangladesh’s long-term interests enjoin that all these “positives” do not become an excuse for a foray into authoritarianism in the absence of an opposition.