The upcoming general election in the country clearly is a battle between secularist Awami League and its rivals – the nexus of ultra-Islamist and jihadists. The EU delegation reached Dhaka on a 16-day visit on July 8, 2023 to discuss the election environment and pre-election political situation in Bangladesh. With the Bay of Bengal to its south, the country serves as a crucial maritime gateway connecting South Asia with Southeast Asia. This makes Bangladesh an important model for other Muslim-majority countries, both Arab and non-Arab, seeking to balance religious identity with democratic governance. These governments have not had the time or the inclination to consider the battering Bangladesh’s history has received from those who today are campaigning to see the back of the Sheikh Hasina government”.

Source: Dhaka Tribune July 18, 2023 06:03 UTC