Eminent academic Dr. Mahbub Ullah stated that the Awami League’s vengeful politics poses a major obstacle to democratic progress and peaceful coexistence in Bangladesh. Speaking on Saturday at the grand finale and award ceremony of the ‘Debate for Democracy’ election debate competition held at the FDC in Dhaka, he warned that the party’s actions risk damaging both the electoral environment and national peace. He also alleged that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had turned into a political miscreant due to her obsession with power.

Dr. Ullah further claimed that fallen autocrats and neighboring states were supporting election-related violence and were unwilling to accept political change in Bangladesh. He said the nation had yet to reap the full benefits of its Liberation War, which he described as being influenced by neighboring powers. He urged the government to take effective measures to end electoral violence and bring qualitative change to politics to uphold democracy.

At the same event, Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron said public expectations for the upcoming election were higher than ever, describing it as a contest against fascist forces.