By Dr Sheikh Akram Ali
The metaphor of “snakes in the grass” has long been used to describe hidden threats that appear loyal on the surface but act against the interests of those who trust them. In politics, the phrase often reflects anxieties about internal rivalries, competing loyalties and the quiet struggle for influence that can shape the direction of parties and governments more profoundly than their public opponents. History across many nations has shown that political organisations are rarely challenged only by external rivals. Internal divisions, ideological disputes and personal ambitions have often proved equally decisive in determining whether a movement succeeds or fails.
Bangladesh’s political history has frequently been interpreted through this lens. Since the turbulent years before independence, political parties have contained individuals representing different ideological traditions, strategic priorities and foreign policy preferences. Such diversity is not unusual in democratic politics. Broad political movements naturally attract people from varied backgrounds who share immediate goals but differ over long-term direction. The challenge for any leadership is to manage these differences without allowing them to develop into destructive factionalism.
The emergence of the Awami League remains one of the defining chapters in Bangladesh’s political evolution. Different historical accounts describe how the party drew support from a wide range of political activists, including those influenced by socialist, nationalist and democratic ideas. These ideological currents often competed with one another while remaining under the same political umbrella. Such competition shaped debates over economic policy, relations with foreign powers and the constitutional future of what was then East Pakistan.
As political tensions between East and West Pakistan intensified during the 1960s, these ideological divisions became increasingly significant. Some leaders favoured negotiation and constitutional reform, while others believed that the circumstances demanded a more confrontational approach. The Six-Point programme became the centrepiece of Bengali political demands, but disagreements remained over how far the movement should ultimately go. Historians continue to debate the extent to which individual political figures influenced the decisive events leading to Bangladesh’s independence. Those questions remain part of an active scholarly discussion rather than settled historical fact.
The years following independence illustrated another recurring political reality. Winning freedom or electoral victory is often easier than governing a deeply divided nation. Governments must balance public expectations, administrative challenges and competing political interests while rebuilding institutions damaged by conflict. Leadership can quickly become constrained when internal rivalries begin to overshadow national priorities. Cabinet disagreements, allegations of corruption and ideological disputes have repeatedly weakened governments across South Asia, regardless of their political orientation.
Bangladesh’s experience during the 1970s demonstrated how fragile newly established political systems can become. The country faced immense economic hardship, institutional weakness and security challenges. Political disagreements intensified, while international Cold War rivalries also influenced regional calculations. In such circumstances, accusations of betrayal and hidden agendas became common features of political debate. Whether entirely justified or politically motivated, these narratives reflected widespread public frustration with the pace of governance and reform.
Subsequent administrations encountered similar pressures. Political leadership requires not only electoral legitimacy but also the ability to maintain unity within governing parties, the state bureaucracy and security institutions. Leaders who fail to build trust across these structures often find themselves weakened by internal disputes rather than defeated by opposition parties. Across the world, governments have fallen because of divisions within their own ranks long before external competitors gained decisive strength.
The administrations that followed each attempted to reshape Bangladesh’s domestic and foreign policies according to their own priorities. Yet every government inherited a political landscape marked by ideological competition, institutional mistrust and deep political polarisation. Changes in leadership rarely ended these tensions. Instead, they often transferred them from one administration to another, ensuring that political stability remained elusive.
The lesson extends beyond any single political party. Every major organisation eventually attracts individuals motivated by different ambitions. Some join out of genuine commitment to public service. Others are drawn by opportunity, influence or personal advancement. This mixture is inevitable in politics. The responsibility of leadership therefore lies not in expecting complete loyalty from every member but in establishing transparent institutions capable of identifying misconduct, encouraging accountability and preventing individuals from placing personal interests above the public good.
Modern democratic politics also demands caution in the language used to describe political opponents or internal critics. Disagreement within a party does not automatically constitute betrayal. Healthy political organisations depend upon debate, criticism and competing ideas. The danger arises when internal conflicts become secretive, when personal networks replace institutional decision-making, or when factional interests consistently override democratic processes. Strong institutions remain the best safeguard against such risks.
The enduring relevance of the “snakes in the grass” metaphor lies less in identifying specific individuals than in reminding governments that internal weaknesses can be more damaging than external opposition. Trust must be earned through accountable leadership, fair institutions and consistent adherence to democratic principles. Nations become stronger not by assuming conspiracies at every turn but by building resilient institutions capable of withstanding political pressure from both within and outside government. Bangladesh’s long-term stability will ultimately depend on leadership that values openness over suspicion, institutional strength over personal loyalty and national interest above factional advantage.
(The writer is an academic and political commentator in Bangladesh and can be reached at news@metro-morning.com)
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