Elite Development Discourses Under Authoritarianism: Neoliberalism, Political Control, and Social Inequality in Bangladesh

Abstract

The paper critically analyzes the convergence of neoliberal development approaches with authoritarian rule in Bangladesh during Sheikh Hasina's tenure from 2009 to 2024. Despite significant economic growth in the country, the benefits of this progress have been unevenly distributed, favoring the political and economic elite, intensifying social inequities, and compromising democratic processes. This study employs elite theory and the concept of competitive authoritarianism to examine how development discourses, often presented as national development, have been utilized to legitimize authoritarian governance and suppress dissent. The study uses case studies, including the Padma Multipurpose Bridge and Rampal Power Plant, to demonstrate how large-scale infrastructure projects have favored elite interests at the expense of local needs and environmental sustainability. The analysis emphasizes that neoliberal policies, such as privatization and deregulation, have created a political environment in which economic growth consolidates authority, restricts citizen participation, and erodes democratic values. Based on secondary literature and newspaper content, this paper contextualizes Bangladesh's growth trajectory within the broader political dynamics of South Asia to clarify the role of elite-driven development in strengthening authoritarian governments, which is the paper's central argument. The paper argues that unless development priorities are changed to prioritize inclusion, environmental sustainability, and democratic accountability, Bangladesh's economic growth will be nothing more than a veneer covering up inequalities and political repression.