Summary:
- Bangladesh’s Mexico ambassador Mushfiqul Fazal Ansari accuses civil society and governance structures of harboring fascist tendencies following controversial demolitions of Awami League properties.
- Questions whether fascism persists through institutional complicity rather than physical structures alone.
- Highlights concerns about political impunity and historical violence perpetrators’ continued influence.
- Marks rare diplomatic criticism of domestic affairs amid Bangladesh’s evolving political landscape.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Mexico Mushfiqul Fazal Ansari has accused elements within Bangladesh’s civil society and governance structures of perpetuating fascist tendencies, following the controversial demolition of several Awami League-affiliated installations in Dhaka. The diplomat made these remarks in a Wednesday night Facebook post addressing the bulldozing of facilities including the party’s historic 32 Dhanmondi office.
In his verified social media statement, Ansari questioned whether physical demolitions alone erase ideological remnants, writing: “Is concrete of bricks and mortar the only marker of fascism? Doesn’t the entrenched position of Sheikh Hasina government’s collaborators within state mechanisms and beneath civil society’s veneer constitute fascist symbols?” The ambassador emphasized that only Bangladesh’s citizens could decide whether to tolerate such manifestations.
The post followed Wednesday’s demolition drive against Awami League properties, which Ansari framed as part of broader systemic issues. He challenged perceived impunity for historical violence, asking: “How do these blood-stained perpetrators and their leader display such audacity? What emboldens those whose maximum punishment couldn’t compensate for their crimes?”
While not explicitly naming specific incidents, the remarks appear to reference longstanding opposition allegations about political violence in Bangladesh. Ansari’s critique notably extends beyond physical structures to question institutional complicity, suggesting fascist tendencies permeate administrative systems and elite social circles alike.
As a career diplomat currently serving in Mexico, Ansari’s direct commentary on domestic affairs breaks from conventional bureaucratic practice. The statement has sparked discussion about political tensions within Bangladesh’s governing structures ahead of potential leadership transitions.
Source: Kalbela