It looks like Bangladesh is at a critical point politically right now. The interim President, Iajuddin Ahmed, recently declared a state of emergency, and then abruptly resigned as interim leader.
The central issue seems to be the accuracy of the country’s voter rolls, which has on it the names of 13 million people who shouldn’t be there — out of a total population of 150 million. The voter rolls also excludes most minority voters, though that doesn’t appear to be as big a problem politically for either party. The best summary of what is happening is probably Naeem’s at Drishtipat:
The controversy around Jan 22 elections center around few things:
i) Voter List: Subject of raging court battles for last 2 years. BNP defied a court order to update existing voter list (created by AL in 2000), and instead created a brand new voter list. An NDI survey found 13 million extra names on the Voters List. Minority voters (esp, Hindu+CHT Pahari voters) are of course wholesale missing from this list–– par for the course. The total voter count was 93 million, a mathematical impossibility from 2001 census. In face of mounting domestic/international pressure EC finally agreed to correct the voters list, but the work was incomplete when opposition boycott began.
ii) CTG (Caretaker Government): This was a system instituted after the 1996 vote-fraud marred elections, whereby, 3 months before each election the gov’t steps down, and a CTG takes over to conduct “fair”elections. This worked in 1996 and 2001, but by 2006, surprise surprise, the CTG itself has become super-controversial. The AL alleges it is now full of BNP partisans. After a long campaign to remove a partisan candidate, the chess move was placed by Iajuddin who took over as head of CTG bypassing the normal process. Since taking power Iajuddin proved to be a horrorshow autocrat. He repeatedly bypassed and ignored his advisors in taking decisions about voter list, election date and army deployment. A month ago, 4 of his advisors quit in protest. (link)
The two main political parties in Bangladesh are the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which leans Islamist, and the Awami League (AL), which has been historically more secular/left (though recently they have been making overtures to some Islamist parties). The BNP is currently dominant, but the AL has been putting pressure on them to run the upcoming elections fairly, and had been threatening a boycott unless the voter rolls are corrected. Drishtipat’s Naeem and others have suggested that the inability of the two parties to negotiate a way to manage elections might well lead the military to take matters into their own hands in the next couple of weeks. That isn’t a good thing, but clearly things can’t continue much longer as they are.
About 40 people have died thus far in the violence that has accompanied the current political standoff. I’m crossing my fingers that, however, this is resolved, that number doesn’t go any higher. Do readers have suggestions for readings that might shed more light on what is happening in Dhaka right now? I’m especially curious to see ‘on the ground’ blog reports of what is happening, if there are any.
In fact Bangladesh is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. New Chief of interim (caretaker) government sworn in. Army has cracked down on corrupt politicians and businessmen. Press embargo (made by one former adviser) lifted, curfew withdrawn.
Read the latest news from the blogs as highlighted by the guardian:
Blogs provide light in Bangladesh’s political night
“If the world ever needed a lesson on how democracies can disintegrate, it would find one in Bangladesh today. There, a constitutional setup has done little to stem the country’s slide toward chaos and, possibly, a Shariah state. A decade ago, Bangladesh’s woes wouldn’t have mattered much outside South Asia. But given the reach of terrorists now, the world can ill afford another throwback to Taliban-led Afghanistan. That is exactly where Bangladesh is headed“
Thea above is a part of an op-ed on Bangladesh published in yesterdays journal. A few months ago, Francis Fukuyama, when asked his opinion on the growing Indo-American relationship, responded – “Islam ( fundamentalism ) has pushed India into American arms.” Noticing the trajectory, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan are on, one would be hard pressed to disagree.
duplicate post!!!!
Nusrat:
Sharia’ state? Hold your breath. Jamaat-e-Islami said after this turnaround they will consider whether they will run for the next election. Obviously they are fearing landslide defeat. Islamist had 5% vote last election. This time it would be less then that.
MG, thanks, fixed.
Seriously, Shariah state? and even if so, why is it assumed that it would be like the Taliban? The Jamaaat in Bangladesh is a lot more sophisticated politically in its organisation than the Taliban, who were straight soldiers. .They have a lot more credibility outside of Dhaka for not being overtly corrupt unlike BNP and AL.
And China pushed America into Indian arms.
That really sucks…so the non-Muslims (I believe Hindus are almost 10% of the population) can’t even vote?
i don’t know, i was in bangladesh 2 years ago. i have to say this stuff about ‘shariah state’ seems pretty nutso. there were pictures of fat semi-naked chicks in public places and open air porn stalls downtown (reported in the daily star). it is a seriously messed up country, but a shift toward islamism in an iranian, taliban or saudi sense is unlikely.
p.s. re: hindus, one ambiguity is that many of them who now live in india still have official residence in bangladesh so that their property isn’t repossessed.
also, i think it is probably overdoing to say that the BNP leans islamist. its allies are islamist, and it far less sympathetic to hindus than the awami league, which is secular. but in my own family (which is more AL than BNP) there is little correlation between political orientation and religiosity. both parties are crooks.
Razib,
What is happening with Beharis? ItÂ’s been 30+ years since Bengladesh created is any party siding with them or they still considered outsiders? I heard even their kids are not allowed to have Bengladeshi nationality.
Apart from Grameen Bank, I have rarely come across any positive news media coverage on Bangladesh. It paints a very dismal picture of the country – floods, increasing influence of radical Islam, etc.
I have also read about multiple incidents of gross human right violations of the minorities. It’s very hard to picture Bangladesh, considering that it stated off as an Islamic country but eventually aligned with a Bengali identity. I think its a race between which of the two forces (progressive/secular or radical) take over the country.
What is happening with Beharis? ItÂ’s been 30+ years since Bengladesh created is any party siding with them or they still considered outsiders? I heard even their kids are not allowed to have Bengladeshi nationality.
i don’t know. i hear some scary shit about them. a lot of them though want to go to pakistan, and pakistan won’t have them. but many of them must be assimilating, i have cousins whose maternal grandmother is bihari and it is not of great note.
I think its a race between which of the two forces (progressive/secular or radical) take over the country.
it isn’t a race, it’s a metastability. different aspects are emphasized conditonally depending on the circumstance. before 1947 the bengali speaking muslims middle class (the muslim elite in bengal was traditionally urdu speaking) aligned with the muslim league. after ’47 it shifted toward a bengali identity as the oppressive caste shifted from the hindu babus of calcutta to punjabi military elite and the immigrant bihari mercentile caste. the shift between the BNP and AL since 90 reflects this back and forth tack. bangladesh has many whacked-out muslims. i have relatives who are in the religious profession, and an uncle who is high up in the tableegh jamat. that being said, the national poet is tagore, and a secular middle class which derives its income from the NGO sector is also prominent. there’s no need for a manichaean narrative.
If majority do not treat them as dirt they might want to live there. As about Pakistan we have lot of Bengali speaking in Karachi no one else can tolerate them (you know what I mean).
A while ago Bangladeshi PM asked Pakistan to take Beharis. She talked as if they are PakistanÂ’s responsibility. I never understand their (Bengali majority’s) logic since they were against the division of country they all should go to Pakistan. Well when India was divided lot of people such as in NWFP were against it and there were lot of in India who do not want to be the part of India. But when partition finalized everyone accepted them as their own and their kids always considered as the nationals since they were born there. But in the case of Bangladesh I heard Behari live in camps since 35 years and their kids are not allowed to claim the citizenship of a country where they were born. It gives Bangladesh a bad name on humanitarian basis.
YouÂ’re from Bangladesh, right. IÂ’m dying to ask some neutral person why Bangladeshi Army had killed father of the nation Mujeeb. What reasons do they gave and did people forgave them for killing their savior.
Not really. What do you mean?
Razib,
I should add I’m not talking about those who opted for Pakistan in 1971 when asked but I’m concerned about the later generations. BTW my aunt is a Bangla speaking beauty. She lives with my uncle in Karachi and they taught their kids both Urdu and Bangla. We South Asians are nuts we are same people but why we have to fight and divide and sub divide as its useless it creates more empathy than ever.
Pakistani Army is consisted of mostly Punjabis and Pathans. In 1971 they (Army and Bengalis) killed each other and Army was defeated so they both don’t get along for obvious reasons.
Hi I’m actually in bangladesh right now and been here for 3 weeks. We had to cancel travel plans to coxs bazaar and chittagong when the hortal/blockades were announced. During those times I did not witness any incidents in the area of Dhaka we are staying but we didn’t take any cars out during the day and only went out locally in rickshaws. The curfew has now been lifted and everyone is relieved the protests have finished (for now!) As a visitor and observer I get the impression most people believe both major parties are just as corrupt when in power ( BNP and AL) and they just want peace and prosperity for the country. Problems of corruption is prevalent in many countries but here its more transparent and it seems this is the major gripe.
I’m on my blackberry so apologies for any duplicates. The curfew has been lifted here in Dhaka now where I’ve been staying as part of my vacation. I had to change some travel plans during the hortal/strike period and not take cars/taxis in the day. However didn’t witness any major incidents in this area around the airport. Its just been a major inconvience for anyone visiting with limited time as it meant staying put where you’re staying. Most people state both major parties are equally corrupt when in power and I really don’t get the sense people will opt for a shariah state within bangladesh as there are so many identities. everyone is obsessed with ‘close up’ the bengali equivalent of ‘ American idol’ and have major love of music/ dance etc so I can’t see the strictness imposed in places like Iran being widely accepted at all. I’m just glad all is quieter now and people seem to be relieved to be getting on with everyday life…for now
Neena:
Stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh
There are about 238,000 Pakistanis, who opted for going back to Pakistan after Bangladesh became independent in 1971, are now being sheltered in 66 camps in 13 districts across Bangladesh. Many of them are supported by local NGOs and the Bangladesh Government. As far I know that almost all of them are working in the society as they are free to move and do not need an work permit as such. Many of the top-class Barbers in Dhaka are biharis-people from these camps (including my barber). Yet they want to go back to their opted country when Pakistani government is reluctant to listen to them. Only the MQM Party has an agenda to repatriate them. As MQM are supporting the Musharrof government, things should move a bit in their favor, but nothing is happening and the refugees are carrying on their usual protests in vain. So what the Bangladesh government should do with them? They are free to work and maintain their lives and only short of Bangladesh citizenship. And Pakistanis are turning their back on them as if they are not bothered. So much for being patriotic.
During the liberation war in 1971 some of these Biharis were notoriously famous for their support to Pakistani Army and were involved in many atrocities against the Bengalis. Some of them were opportunist and grabbed properties of Bengalis who have fled from towns to villages as the war progressed. Even people say that they played a role in the murder of the intellectuals in December 1971.
After the war the Bengalis took their revenge. Many took possession of their lost property driving them out. I don’t think the revenge was much lawful. After 1971 many biharis opted for Bangladesh and are now living peacefully. Now why are these camps still remaining? These are the people who boldly opted to go back to Pakistan because how could they live in a place where the people they hated live? They kept hopes for Pakistan alive. But Pakistan did not take them. Because many Pakistanis treat people of East Pakistan as of a no class of their own (even now). Pakistan probably will never recognise them as they are not pure Pakistan blood.
They have a website if you want to know more about them.