Is democracy evolving or eroding in Bangladesh?

20 min | 2 Jul 2025

Susmuta Jebin interviews Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah to discuss the evolving landscape of democracy in Bangladesh.

In this in-depth and candid conversation, Susmuta Jebin speaks with Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah—a respected academic and lieutenant colonel in the Bangladesh Army—about the shifting dynamics of democracy in Bangladesh. As the nation grapples with rising political tensions and heightened scrutiny of its democratic institutions, their exchange explores timely and complex questions of governance, civil society, and national identity.

Dr Kalimullah, a professor in the Department of Public Administration at the University of Dhaka, offers a rare dual perspective shaped by both scholarly insight and military experience. Having previously served as Vice-Chancellor of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR), and as Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), his views are grounded in decades of engagement with the nation’s institutional and civic landscape. In October 2024, he reached a significant milestone in his public service career with his promotion to lieutenant colonel, further cementing his place at the intersection of education, governance, and national duty.

Through this compelling dialogue, Jebin and Kalimullah examine the ongoing evolution of democracy in Bangladesh, shedding light on the emotional and political forces shaping the country’s public discourse. From the credibility of elections to the growing influence of civic activism, their exchange offers a nuanced portrait of a democracy at a pivotal juncture.