Bangladesh’s struggle for democracy and China’s triumph through unity

Al Mamun Harun Ur Rashid :

The Chinese Embassy in Dhaka recently hosted a grand celebration to mark the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, which also coincided with 50 years of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and China.

The celebration brought together diplomats, political leaders, and representatives from across Bangladeshi society. Guests were immersed in a vibrant display of Chinese culture and traditions, while an exhibition of photographs traced China’s long struggle, the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression an d eventual triumph through unity and leadership.

As China celebrates a victory forged through the united resolve of its leaders and the unwavering strength of its people, Bangladesh stands at a crossroads defined not by foreign invasion or civil war, but by deep political fractures of its own making.

Ordinary citizens—the very lifeblood of democracy—remain pushed to the margins while parties wage battles of power and procedure. China’s unity became the bedrock of its transformation, but Bangladesh risks allowing disunity to delay its own journey toward stability and development.

China’s path from fragmentation to unity was long and painful. The fall of the Qing dynasty in 1911 left the country without a stable center of authority. Sun Yat-sen, the revolutionary leader who inspired the 1911 Xinhai Revolution, envisioned a modern republic built on his “Three Principles of the People”—nationalism, democracy, and people’s livelihood.

Yet even he had to compromise, stepping aside in favor of Yuan Shikai in hopes of preserving national stability. Instead, Yuan’s ambitions led to new fractures, and China descended into the warlord era, when provincial militarists controlled vast territories with little regard for central authority.

It was in this climate of disunity that the Northern Expedition was launched in 1926. Led by Chiang Kai-shek under the banner of the Kuomintang, the campaign sought to reunify China by defeating the warlords and bringing their territories under a single national government.
For a brief period, the Northern Expedition succeeded in rekindling hope.

By 1928, Chiang had declared the nominal reunification of China under the Nationalist government in Nanjing. Yet beneath this fragile unity lays deep tensions, including the rift with the Chinese Communist Party, which had once been an ally during the expedition but soon became a bitter adversary.

Yet another defining chapter of unity emerged with the Long March of 1934–1935. Under relentless pursuit by Chiang’s forces, the Communists undertook a harrowing retreat of more than 9,000 kilometers, a journey that cost countless lives but also consolidated the leadership of Mao Zedong.

The Long March became more than a military maneuver; it was a crucible that forged discipline, resilience, and a shared sense of unity. Out of this ordeal, the Communists emerged not only with a charismatic leader but with a deeper commitment to collective survival through unity.

The clearest example of pragmatic unity came in 1937, when Japan’s invasion forced Nationalists and Communists to form the Second United Front, proving China could not resist foreign domination without unity.

When the People’s Republic of China was finally proclaimed on October 1, 1949, it was the culmination of nearly four decades of struggle. Leaders from different phases of this history contributed to the idea that only unity could preserve the Chinese nation.

This unity did not erase differences overnight, nor did it resolve all challenges. But it provided the framework upon which the country rebuilt itself, restored sovereignty, and embarked on the path that has led to today’s remarkable achievements. President Xi Jinping is carrying the flag of ‘Socialism with Chinese Characteristics” to realise the ‘Dream of China.’

The celebration of the Chinese National Day in a sense gives the message to Bangladesh that unity of the people can break all obstacles. Amid the turbulent political situation in Bangladesh, China has been continuing its support for Bangladesh.

Investment projects continue, infrastructure partnerships remain active, and Beijing has not withdrawn its hand even when other international actors have grown cautious. This commitment rests on the belief that Bangladesh, like China, has the capacity to overcome internal divisions and chart a path toward stability and growth.

The interim government of Bangladesh that assumed office after the fall of the previous administration carries the responsibility of ensuring both reform and a credible election.

Political parties are now engaged in dialogue but remain locked in disagreement over the proposed introduction of a proportional representation (PR) electoral system.

Some political parties, especially Islamist parties, are refusing to participate in the February election without a PR system, while the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, a major political party, argues that such a system would create confusion and chaos.

The irony is that while parties invoke democracy to defend their positions, their unwillingness to compromise threatens the very possibility of democratic renewal.

The interim government, pressed between demands for rapid reform and the urgency of holding elections, cannot carry the burden alone. What is required is a national recognition that unity, even imperfect unity, is indispensable. The example of China between 1911 and 1949 shows no nation emerges from crisis by clinging to fragmentation.

Bangladesh does not need to replicate China’s trajectory, but it does need to embrace the same principle: that the national interest must outweigh partisan advantage.

If unity could be forged in China during the Long March, under bombardment in the war against Japan, and through the painful compromises of leaders from Sun Yat-sen to Mao Zedong, then surely Bangladesh’s political forces can summon enough collective will to agree on ground rules for elections and governance.

Without unity, investment will falter, social unrest will spread, and public confidence will collapse. With unity Bangladesh can enter its next phase with renewed strength and credibility.

As China celebrates its National Day and reflects on its journey from fragmentation to unity, Bangladesh stands at a critical juncture. If Bangladesh chooses unity, it will not only honor the spirit of democracy but also secure the stability upon which development depends. If it fails, the cycle of division and crisis will only deepen.

(The Writer is the Diplomatic Correspondent of The New Nation)