Hasina entered politics as people's leader; system turned her authoritarian: Ahsan H Mansur

Ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina entered politics as a "people's leader" and did not become authoritarian by nature, but rather, the system itself has pushed her into a position of unchecked power, Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur said today (8 December).

"Over time, a morally weakened society, a complacent administration, a silent intelligentsia, and a voting culture driven by party symbols instead of qualified candidates collectively created a system that concentrated power around her," he said.

Speaking at the concluding session of the annual conference of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), held at the Parjatan Bhaban in the capital's Agargaon, Mansur argued that authoritarian tendencies do not originate from a single individual alone, but from the ecosystem that surrounds leadership.

Recalling one of the final meetings between business leaders and Sheikh Hasina, Mansur said the business community had repeatedly expressed absolute dependence on her leadership.

"They told her, 'We want only you, again and again – only you.' This reflects a belief that the country cannot function without one person. We have created this situation, and it demands serious introspection," he said.

Mansur lamented that over the last 15 years there has been no significant movement or intellectual awakening from Dhaka University, the teachers' associations, or wider intellectual circles. 

"This is unfortunate. The space we call civil society should have been uncompromising. Yes, anyone can support a political party, but not beyond the norms," he said.

He noted that Bangladesh's current political crisis and democratic shortcomings cannot be blamed solely on any one leader or government. Instead, various components of society – voters, intellectuals, business elites, and the administration – have collectively lost moral ground. 

"We have reduced democracy to the act of voting once every five years. True democracy is daily accountability, constant questioning of power, upholding ethics, and routinely evaluating leadership," he said.

According to him, qualified candidates often fail because voters cast ballots based purely on party symbols, blinding themselves to merit. "Those who could have brought democratic balance disappear from the system. Over time, this culture centralises power and allows a circle of beneficiaries around the leader to create an environment where accountability erodes."

Participating in the discussion, economist Rehman Sobhan said sustainable economic prosperity is impossible without a strong democratic foundation. Expecting financial progress while weakening democracy, he argued, is fundamentally misguided.

Mansur echoed that sentiment, adding that as long as voters prioritise party allegiance over competence, capable leadership cannot emerge. This, he said, inevitably fosters authoritarian tendencies within the state apparatus itself.

"Democracy and development move forward hand in hand," he said. "One cannot advance while the other is weakened."