Dhaka, Dec. 23 -- On election day in Bangladesh, the ballot is cast in an atmosphere closer to lockdown than celebration.
Roads empty, buses vanish, and everyday mobility is suspended. This recurring paralysis raises an uncomfortable question: why must democracy come at the cost of movement?
Officially, transport restrictions are imposed to ensure a peaceful polling environment.
The Bangladesh Election Commission and law-enforcement agencies argue that limiting vehicle movement helps prevent violence, voter intimidation, and organised disruption.
Given Bangladesh's history of election-time clashes, arson, and road blockades, this logic is not without precedent.
Yet comparison with other countries exposes a deeper problem. In the United...