Experts at a webinar titled “Violence and Misinformation: Barriers to Economic Prosperity in Bangladesh” stressed the need for support from foreign countries to combat violence and misinformation in Bangladesh.
The webinar was presided over by a Councilman, Freedom Fighter, and Prominent Writer Dr Nurun Nabi, says a press release issued on Tuesday.
The five internationally recognized panellists were Prof Abdur Chowdhury, Prof ABM Nasir, Security Analyst Chris Blackburn, Political Analyst Seth Oldmixon, and Senior Researcher Dr Mazharul Islam Rana.
Violence and misinformation are the two main obstacles to the ongoing economic development led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh, lamented speakers in the webinar on Tuesday.
They also claimed that Bangladesh could experience more progress if the Jamaat-BNP-led opposition would not create anarchy and violence.
They further said, that on October 28, BNP Jamat organized an anti-government rally in Dhaka, used violence and murdered a policeman, burnt several buses and ambulances in the hospital, attacked the house of the chief justice, and injured several journalists on the day Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was inaugurating Bangabandhu Tunnel, the first ever underwater road tunnel in South Asia.
Mentioning the demand of the opposition parties for a caretaker government in Bangladesh, the speakers wondered why those parties asked for something unconstitutional. They referred to the constitution and reminded that the elections should be held under the supervision of the Elections Commission.
Mentioning the progress of Bangladesh, especially the big infrastructure developments (mega projects) such as the Padma Bridge, Karnaphuli Tunnel, and Metro Rail, the speakers credited those for the continuity of a government for 15 years.
The speakers also mentioned the significant progress of Bangladesh in expanding the social safety net by providing social services including the stipend for the freedom fighters, elderly and disabled people to bring millions of Bangladeshis out of poverty.
Prof Abdur Chowdhury mentioned that Goldman Sachs and Chase identified Bangladesh as one of the five emerging economies of the world. This is an amazing advancement coming from the war-ridden country in 1971. Bangladesh is on track to attain upper middle-income status by 2031. Bangladesh is working on
its vast human capital to the skilled labour force to help the economy at home and abroad. However, Bangladesh has some challenges because of the current global socio-political situations, for example, the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
He advocated for economic and political stability in Bangladesh, especially for continuous and diverse sectors of foreign investments.
Chris Blackburn cited a recent survey by the International Republican Institute (IRI) and mentioned that despite all of the current economic issues, Sheikh Hasina has 70% approval ratings. Recently, the French president also mentioned that France would support the third wave in Bangladesh because of its continuous support of Bangladesh for fighting religious fundamentalism strongly.
Blackburn also mentioned that Jamaat-BNP-led monopolized misinformation online has a real effect on the economy of Bangladesh, so both the European and American partners should come forward to fight the disinformation campaign against Bangladesh.
He further said: “Tarique Zia is a well-known symbol of violence. UK government is also keeping Bangladesh war criminals besides Tarique Zia. UK needs to have a solution to this problem other than kicking the problem down the road. Misinformation in social media is hurting Bangladesh both socio-economically and BNP knows it very well. However, BNP is continuing its campaigns of arson and disinformation.”
Dr Mazharul Islam talked about the effects of misinformation and disinformation on Bangladesh and how it could affect socio-political instability.
He said: “The anti-liberation forces had created the plot of the Bangabandhu murder by spreading continuous misinformation, disinformation and the same anti-liberation force is still active in present days under the guidance of absconding BNP leader Tareque Zia, the fugitives of the Bangabandhu murder case and Jamaat-e-Islam. They have spread disinformation about the recent threat from the US State Department on visa restrictions, upcoming elections, and minority persecution. Infamous examples are, cooked stories by journalist Chandan Nandy.”
Prof Nasir urged American policymakers not to miss the golden opportunities to resist the rise of Islamic militancy and support the wheel to make Bangladesh an example of progressive democracy and a role model of the moderate Muslim country. Citing examples of a series of violence soon after the BNP-Jamaat-led coalition came to power in 2001, he mentioned the regime between 2001–2006 was the most violent period of the country’s history. The violence of BNP-Jamaat activists and radical Islamists continued unabated and recurred during 2013-2016 targeting the pro-liberation activists, law-enforcing agencies, religious and ethnic minorities, and progressive bloggers.
He mentioned that a similar pattern of violence has reappeared since the start of BNP-Jamaat's nationwide agitation programs on October 28, 2023. He urged US policymakers that a sustainable democratic process and a participatory and acceptable election are only viable when the agents of violence and disinformation are removed from the political process—otherwise, it will end up in an Afghanistan-style spoilout.
Seth cited a study from the University of Dhaka and warned that violent extremists are quite active in using social media platforms to recruit people and instigate violence in Bangladesh. To fight this misinformation campaign, he suggested starting a campaign with positive information such as the 70% approval ratings of the current government as mentioned by the International republican institutions.
The Election Commission has met with social media companies to fight disinformation which is a very good initiative. About the role of the US embassy, he mentioned that the embassy has to engage with all political parties. Jamaat is a complicated and difficult problem, they are not considered political party.
BNP’s relationship with Jamaat puts the US in a difficult position. But if BNP-Jamaat comes into power in Bangladesh. the US will have to have a relationship with that government. Peter Hass has a very difficult job of balancing with different political groups. The US will welcome the new government even if the democratically elected government is unfriendly to US.
The US is not taking sides in Bangladesh. Citing the example of Pakistan, he mentioned that Imran Khan used the narrative that the US did not want him as the leader in Pakistan which did work for him to be more popular.