Bangladesh finds itself at a political crossroads once again, where the future of its democratic fabric is being quietly shaped not by elected leaders, but by the stewards of state power ~ its military leadership. The recent public statements from the army chief urging elections by December this year reveal not only a call for constitutional order but also a deeper anxiety about the military’s role in civil affairs.

While the interim government maintains a vague timeline extending up to mid-2026, the military’s insistence on a more immediate electoral process is telling. It is a subtle but firm message: the longer the delay in returning to an elected government, the greater the risk of institutional erosion and public distrust. In essence, the army is signaling that it does not wish to be a substitute for political legitimacy ~ a position that carries significant weight in a country with a history of military rule.........

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