Australia’s recent $2 million contribution to Bangladesh’s $18.53 million Ballot Project, aimed at fostering a credible and inclusive election, has raised significant concerns amid Bangladesh’s current political climate. While Australia is renowned for championing democratic values, the exclusion of the Awami League—the nation’s largest secular party—casts doubt on the inclusivity of the upcoming election. The unelected interim government’s ban on the Awami League and its affiliates, enforced under an amended Anti-Terrorism Act, has effectively sidelined a major political bloc, questioning the Ballot Project’s ethics of broad representation.

This situation echoes a chapter in Australia’s own history: in 1950, Australia banned the Communist Party, only to later reverse the decision, reaffirming its commitment to pluralism and democratic inclusion. Australia’s experience highlights the dangers of disenfranchising political groups and the importance of upholding democratic norms.

By supporting the Ballot Project under these exclusionary conditions, Australia risks being seen as endorsing a flawed process and setting a troubling precedent. Immediately requesting the Australian government to reconsider its financing involving the parliamentary process until all major parties, including the Awami League, are allowed to participate and human rights concerns are addressed in international standards.