Have you noticed that all those politicians, journalists, ‘experts’, and ‘civil society’ types who engage in ‘profound’ debate on “democracy vs development” have their own spouses, children, and investments safely abroad in capitalist, democratic societies? In fact in many cases they themselves either live in such free societies or have residency/citizenship in those countries? See, as is wont in the intellectually and morally bankrupt Bong upper middle classes, it comes down to a simple “democracy for me, not for thee”. Even the late Enayetullah Khan–perhaps second only to Manik Mia in genuine stature–who was big into “Leftist” politics and beliefs and all that “pro peasant” stuff…where are his kids and siblings? They ain’t in China, bud!
The dichotomy of ‘democracy vs development’ is an utterly false one, as is its cousin “which path to development..democratic or autocratic”. It’s a narrative delved into by those politicos who benefit from being in unaccountable state power or those who benefit from these primary beneficiary politicos in terms of prime ministerial palace (ie Gonobhobon) invitations, plots of choice residential land in Purbachal and Uttara, scholarships and fellowships (again to democratic countries..see a pattern here?), generous make-believe jobs in the quasi-public sector (what the heck does “head of corporate social responsibility” even do in a five branch bank in Bangladesh except be the spouse of an editor who wisely kept quiet about the terrorism of BCL??).
Unfortunately for Bangladesh, the utter phoniness of this dichotomy has been studiously avoided as a subject matter of comment by the stringers for Wall Street Journal, WaPo, the Economist, the Telegraph, and their ilk. Maybe these stringers pine for those invitations to Gonobhobon as well? Or perhaps the drinks regularly bought for ‘journalists’ by the “Clown” Prince of Bangladesh in Alexandria, Virginia’s downtown shopping district are too exquisite to pass over? Err…yes….the son of Bangladesh’s dictator lives in a palatial home in northern Virginia off of the ‘IT contracts’ his momma sends him for creating a “Digital Bangladesh”….a highly successful initiative if there was one, or something https://bdnews24.com/aviation/2021/12/23/meet-an-airline-that-doesnt-sell-tickets-online-biman-bangladesh