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The Hostages of Statecraft: Bengali Internment in Pakistan and the 1971 Bangladesh War
Contemporary politics in South Asia involves historically complex questions of citizenship, loyalty, and state power. Debates about migration, internal security, and national belonging have revived concerns over how swiftly democratic norms can be compromised to serve state security needs. In Bangladesh, these tensions remain particularly sharp: the Awami League, which played a crucial role in the founding of the country and governed for over a decade, was ousted through mass protests and subsequently barred from contesting the February 2026 elections, raising serious questions about political representation, democratic legitimacy, and the future of electoral competition. Such developments highlight the fragility of democratic processes and demonstrate how political crises can reshape notions of citizenship, rights, and participation.
13.03.2026
