China’s autocratic state bankrolls other countries and then uses its influences to enable democratic reversals. Bangladesh has unfortunately fallen prey. Ali Riaz had this information in East Asia Forum. Here is an excerpt:

Bangladesh remained firmly under the grip of the incumbent Bangladesh Awami League in 2021. The ruling party faced no formidable opposition, the country celebrated its 50th year of independence and the COVID-19 pandemic was less devastating than was predicted.

Bangladesh’s exclusion from US President Joe Biden’s Democracy Summit in December 2021 was the first indication that the United States is noticing the ongoing democratic backsliding in the country. The US Treasury then imposed sanctions against the Bangladeshi paramilitary force Rapid Action Battalion and seven of its current and former officers. This was followed by the US State Department’s travel ban on two former Bangladeshi officials — including the head of police — for human rights violations, including allegations of extrajudicial killings.

While the Bangladesh government denied these allegations and criticised the ‘unilateral’ decision, discussions at home and abroad highlighted the country’s extensive human rights violations.

Read the full article here.