Election to decide Bangladesh’s future path: Danish ambassador
Elections are not secured by institutions or procedures alone but are built on trust, said Christian Brix Møller.
The upcoming election will determine Bangladesh's future political and democratic direction, Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Christian Brix Møller said, noting that the country is at a critical stage of its democratic journey.
He made the remarks today (15 January), while speaking as a guest at a roundtable discussion titled "Peaceful Elections and Building a Democratic Future", organised by the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) at a hotel in Gulshan.
The ambassador said the issue goes beyond holding a successful general election, describing the current moment as Bangladesh's fourth major attempt to establish an effective democracy.
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Elections, he said, are not secured by institutions or procedures alone but are built on trust.
He added that election-related violence can be prevented if political actors choose dialogue over confrontation and if local communities take responsibility for maintaining peace. Strengthening political consensus and supporting community-based peace initiatives are essential to ensure that elections truly reflect the will of the people, he said.
Emphasising the role of women in democracy, Møller said women are not only participants but also leaders and peacebuilders.
He also said democracy cannot be sustained without responsible citizenship, stressing that inclusive and responsible information flow is crucial to building public trust in democratic processes.
The ambassador said Denmark does not seek to impose any single model of democracy, noting that democratic systems vary across countries and take time to develop. He pointed out that Denmark took 52 years after adopting its constitution to establish an effective democratic system, during which the constitution was amended six times.
Møller said Denmark follows a partially proportional representation-based electoral system, which has helped promote multi-party politics and a culture of dialogue grounded in mutual respect.
Referring to Bangladesh's distinct political and democratic context, he said political culture evolves. Bangladesh, he suggested, could consider incorporating elements of proportional representation into its parliamentary system in the future to move away from deeply divided and highly polarised politics.
While not a perfect model, he said, it could be one possible path for Bangladesh's democratic transition.
