Bangladesh, Aug. 6 -- The political landscape of the Western Balkans took a dramatic turn this week as Bosnia and Herzegovinas Central Election Commission (CEC) reportedly moved to revoke the mandate of Milorad Dodik, the president of Republika Srpska, the Serb-majority entity within Bosnia. The decision, reported by the Sarajevo-based daily Dnevni Avaz, marks a significant escalation in the long-running standoff between Dodik and the Bosnian state apparatus, and is poised to inflame already simmering ethnic and political tensions in the deeply divided country.

The CECs unanimous decision, if upheld, would effectively remove Dodik from power and potentially trigger early elections in Republika Srpska within 90 days. Dodik, however, retai...