Tensions are boiling in Bangladesh as the national elections approach on February 12. Just days away, stakeholders from politics, media, and civil society are raising red flags about systemic administrative lapses and flawed policies. The convergence of political volatility, religious discord, financial insecurity, and eroding civil liberties paints a picture of impending turmoil.

In a pointed editorial, the Dhaka Tribune decried the chilling of media freedoms, referencing assaults on journalists and outlets. It stressed that unfettered media fosters informed citizens and robust debate, urging collective condemnation of these threats.

Media reports weave a tapestry of challenges: economic stagnation amid inflation spikes, heightened religious intolerance, aggressive electioneering, gender equity reversals, and threats to press freedom, expression, and rule of law.

Economic woes dominate discourse, with stalled growth and ineffective policies fueling public discontent. Businesses and households brace for uncertainty, amplifying pre-election jitters.

Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor, sounded the alarm on rampant forgery scandals eroding national credibility. Dubbed Bangladesh the ‘fraud capital of the world’ by the Dhaka Tribune, he highlighted fake documents plaguing citizens internationally.

Gender disparities are under the microscope, with activists highlighting deficiencies in safety, wages, childcare, judicial access, and women’s political roles. The Daily Star’s survey of 20 women underscored disillusionment: violence escalation, civic shrinkage, unemployment, economic precarity, health oversights, and ignored reform proposals widening the promise-reality chasm.

Campaign trails buzz with identity-driven appeals and religious fervor. Minority-targeted mob attacks, including the gruesome December immolation of Deepu Das, continue to horrify, underscoring the volatile atmosphere.