Bangladesh is threatened by an imminent danger of a military coup, with the Army Chief of the country threatening a takeover. The threat has been issued at a time when the country is gearing up for future elections, with the ruling party and opposition groups at loggerheads with each other.
Lying at the center of the crisis is a widening gulf between the government and opposition parties, with the latter accusing the ruling party of trying to manipulate the elections. The opposition has been demanding free and fair elections, but their demands have been ignored.
The threat by the Army Chief has shocked the nation, with most people believing that a coup was in the offing. The rest of the world is following the developments closely, with potential for violence and instability being feared.
In an effort to soften the tensions, the Army Chief has summoned opposition leader Yunus and political leaders for a dialogue and a peaceful election process. But with the tensions high, only time will tell if this appeal will be addressed.
The Bangladesh situation is a poignant reminder of the tenuous state of democracy in much of the world. With the nation on the verge of anarchy, the global community needs to keep its eyes open and lend support to efforts aimed at making the election process free and fair ¹.