"It is not Justified to Call Awami League or Sheikh Hasina Fascist" – British Investigative Journalist David Bergman

"It is not Justified to Call Awami League or Sheikh Hasina Fascist" – British Investigative Journalist David Bergman

British journalist David Bergman, in a recent tweet, criticized the tendency to label Bangladesh’s Awami League as “Nazi” or “fascist.”
He believes that such language is not only incorrect but also legitimizes political repression.

According to Bergman, using these terms essentially attempts to justify actions like banning a political party or imprisoning its supporters in the public's mind.

In his tweet, he mentioned that although Awami League’s rule has been considered authoritarian up to July 16, 2024, it is essentially an extreme manifestation of Bangladesh’s broader political culture. He argues that it is a continuation of the trends seen during the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) time in power.
Based on data from human rights organization Odhikar, the annual average of extrajudicial killings during BNP’s rule was higher than under the Awami League. Yet, no one currently labels BNP as “fascist” or “Nazi.”

Regarding restrictions on freedom of speech and political organization, Bergman admits that the Awami League has at times been stricter than BNP. However, he sees this as a continuation of past regimes rather than a unique phenomenon.

Bergman noted that in the 2008 election, BNP would have certainly rigged the vote if the military had not intervened two years earlier.

Though the events of July–August 2024 may represent a break from the past, Bergman argues that even these three weeks of brutal incidents are not sufficient grounds to label the Awami League as “Nazi” or “fascist.”

He further stated that it is also inaccurate to call Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a “dictator” or to describe the Awami League’s rule as a “dictatorship.” Before Hasina’s fall, no neutral media outlet—such as AFP, where the current press secretary once worked—used such terms. These were considered highly political labels.

According to Bergman, if Sheikh Hasina were truly a dictator, she would have shut down independent media like The Daily Star, Prothom Alo, and New Age, and completely banned BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.

Bergman emphasized that language should be based on truth and context, which paves the way for justice and accountability. Words that make political repression easier should not be used.

S✍️ Report Prepared By: Fozla Rabbi Robna / source: David Bergman’s tweet, May 23, 2025.