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The Transparency International Bangladesh on Sunday expressed concern over the growing trend of power abuse among leaders and activists of major political parties.

The TIB in a statement sent to the media on the current situation of political parties said that the culture of ‘now it’s our turn’ was undermining the aspirations for a democratic and accountable ‘New Bangladesh’.

According to the TIB, since the fall of authoritarianism, leaders and activists of some major political parties have demonstrated a trend of widespread factionalism, extortion, illegal occupation, plundering of state resources, ‘trading’ over lawsuits, arrests, bail, party tagging, and violence to spread party influence and it is an ominous sign for the envisioned political settlement in the ‘New Bangladesh’.

Now is the time for the political parties to show their self-reflect in establishing internal democratic practices, ethics, and accountable political conduct, it said.

‘While reforms are publicly touted, the ongoing culture of dominance, illegal occupation, and extortion are undermining the public aspirations for building a democratic ‘New Bangladesh’, said the statement.

The TIB said that despite the new opportunity for fundamental political change created by the fall of authoritarianism, the power-abusing ‘now it’s our turn’ attitude among some party leaders and activists is creating self-defeating barriers to the development of a healthy political culture free from criminalisation.

TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman said, ‘After the fall of the authoritarian regime, the actions of some leaders and activists of the country’s most influential political parties have emerged as a reflection of the multi-faceted misuse of power and self-serving practices that characterized the fallen regime.’

‘Often, the assertion of demands has been accompanied by coercion, and the involvement of certain religiously motivated political groups, or excessively empowered isolated forces, under the guise of mob rule, has led to violations of the rights of minorities, women, indigenous and marginalized communities — horrible experiences that the nation has been forced to witness.’

‘Although some high-level warnings and a significant number of organizational measures have been taken within the parties, in practice, law enforcement agencies and the administration continue to fail and often play a supportive or protective role for these actors,’ he said.

At the same time, the parties have not adopted any clear strategies for prevention or corrective action, he said.

Rather, at the district, upazila, and union levels, many local leaders and activists have engaged in illegal occupation, extortion, and the expansion of political influence immediately following the fall of the authoritarian government, and the intensity of these activities continues to rise, he added.

By embracing the culture of ‘now it’s our turn,’ not only the political parties but also the government — particularly the administration and law enforcement agencies — have repeatedly failed to exercise control at the local level while, at the same time, inadvertently participating as collaborators.

The TIB also said that the resurgence of extortion and illegal occupation of transport terminals, mineral resources, bridges, markets, and water bodies would also perpetuate the continuation of misrule reminiscent of the past authoritarian regime.

It said, ‘Even the new political parties born from the anti-discrimination movement, which promised good governance, now have activists involved in extortion and irregularities —ending up copying the same corrupt practices they opposed.’

Iftekharuzzaman said, ‘Above all, in the aftermath of the fall of authoritarianism, the long-anticipated ‘new political arrangement’ risks being increasingly and visibly held hostage by the old, unhealthy political culture.

‘Now is the time for political parties to face the mirror. By avoiding self-defeating political practices and learning from the core principles of the anti-authoritarian and anti-discrimination movements.’

‘If political parties do not ensure internal accountability, ethical practices, and democratic management processes, the disappointment of the people — including the martyrs, the injured, and those affected by the historic July movement — will deepen,’ he said.