violent repression before the elections with the arrest of 10,000 opponents

As the legislative elections approach, a vast and violent repression operation in Bangladesh has led to the arrest of 10,000 opponents, according to a report by the NGO Human Rights Watch published Monday.

A few weeks before the legislative elections in Bangladesh, mass arrests followed severely repressed opposition demonstrations. Human Rights Watch said in a report on Monday, November 27, that 16 people died there, including two police officers, 5,500 people were injured and no less than 10,000 activists were arrested in one month.

The Bangladesh nationalist party, the BNP, the main opposition party, says in a report released on Sunday that more than 16,000 arrests of its members took place, including several leaders and notably the party leader. These arrests are often followed by trials. Most opponents receive sentences ranging from two and a half to seven years in prison, after being found guilty of violence during demonstrations.

Initially, demonstrations for purchasing power

This repression began when Bangladeshis were initially on the streets for their purchasing power. The protests began in early October. A significant social movement was formed to demand an increase in wages, particularly for textile workers. This sector is crucial for the life of the country, because Bangladesh is the second largest exporter of clothing after China.

However, working conditions are disastrous for the four million people who make a living from clothing. These are often poorly paid women who are hit hard by inflation and life becomes impossible for them and their families.

A possible fourth consecutive term

But in addition to these demonstrations, the country has an appointment with elections soon. Legislative elections are scheduled for January, for the country’s 170 million inhabitants. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is seeking a fourth consecutive term in power, despite concerns expressed by the United States and other countries over holding free and fair elections. In January 2014Sheikh Hasina was reappointed following an unopposed election, which had boycotted the vote. And in December 2018she began her third consecutive term following an election marked by violence and criticized by the opposition as rigged.

The question is still whether we can still talk about elections. When a government represses and stifles freedom of expression, when a government imprisons the opposition with arbitrary arrests, forced disappearances or intimidation, can we still talk about elections? According to the NGO Human Rights Watch, the country has not experienced such massive repression against the opposition in its entire history.