AGENDA

Powerful forces - from rapid technological change to economic globalization - are reshaping the way Bangladesh fits into the new globalized world. Now, more than ever, our nation needs a robust public debate that does justice to the complex challenges and opportunities of this unfolding era. Instead, there is a dearth of new thinking on both sides of the political divide, and a lack of investment in developing the creative young minds most capable of crafting new public policy solutions.

The purpose of the Pro Reforms Group is to bring exceptionally promising new voices and new ideas to the fore of our nation’s public discourse.

Bangladesh Needs You - Make Your Opinion Count

Google Groups
Become a member of the Pro Reforms Group and contribute your ideas and voice your opinion freely! Subscribe to the Group's e-Newsletter - "HOPE"
Email:

Foregone Conclusion!

Foregone Conclusion!
Let the nation now focus on the Future!

Friday 6 July 2007

Political future of Bangladesh in abeyance

The writer is Research Officer, IPCS

The last six months have seen a complete transformation of politics in Bangladesh. The fall from grace of Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia, engineered by the military-backed caretaker government (CG), has created a leadership vacuum in the Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) respectively with no prominent second-rung leaders to take up the reins.
It also means that the CG will have a free ride in the coming months with no worthy opponent to question its actions and policies. Since the declaration of emergency on January 11 and the subsequent ban on indoor politics, the political future of both Hasina and Khaleda has been in a state of limbo. The CG came up with a "minus-two" formula, a tactic to purge the two leaders and revamp the entire political system of Bangladesh.
The plan became evident when Hasina was not allowed to return to the country while on a private foreign visit. At the same time, Khaleda was being pressured to go into political exile to Saudi Arabia. However, neither attempt succeeded. The CG withdrew its ban on Hasina's return succumbing to international pressure while Khaleda, decided against going to Saudi Arabia in return for the release of her detained son Tarique Rehman and a safe passage for her entire family.
Presently, both leaders are in the country with a thick cloud of mystery and ambiguity surrounding their future plans. Khaleda's situation is more precarious when compared to Hasina as she is also facing an intra-party rebellion. The BNP is divided into pro-Khaleda and pro-reform camps with more and more joining the latter.
The pro-reform camp is led by BNP Secretary General, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, whose supporters have been openly criticizing Khaleda for her dictatorial style of functioning and for promoting her sons and relatives. A set of reform proposals for increased intra-party democracy, decentralization and transparency has been finalized by the "reformists" who are determined to implement the proposals with or without Khaleda's acquiescence.
Khaleda's options are limited considering most of her close aides have deserted her in the past few months. Tarique Rahman is unlikely to get bail and even if he does, the military will force him to leave the country immediately. The CG, aided by the military in this endeavor, is abetting the intra-party discord and striving hard to force Khaleda into exile realizing that that BNP without Khaleda will be a political non-entity. Meanwhile Sheikh Hasina has been non-committal about her future course of action and it appears that the CG too does not know how to deal with her.
After first banning her entry into the country, the CG has now imposed restrictions on her from leaving the country. Meanwhile, Hasina too is being challenged within her party by a group of dissident leaders who reportedly drafted a reform proposal without her consent. Realizing that such a move might jeopardize whatever little chance she has to salvage her political career; Hasina has come out strongly in support of intra-party reforms and in the coming months, one can expect to see a greater devolution of power within the Awami League.
Although Hasina's stature will be weakened considerably, it would be premature to rule her out from the political equations of the Awami League or the elections in 2008, unless there is a military coup. So far, the military has appeared disinclined to take over the mantle of governing the country. The Army Chief, Lt Gen Moeen U Ahmed has clearly stated that the army is merely "assisting" the CG and that it is not the appropriate institution to rule the country.
Assessing the performance of the army objectively in the last five months, one has to admit that it has greatly improved the law and order situation in Bangladesh. It put an end to the confrontational politics of the BNP and Awami League and brought relief to ordinary citizens by banning street politics. The anti-corruption drive netted some of the most important leaders of BNP and Awami League and though the ban on indoor politics is still in place, it is not necessarily a bad thing. Lifting the ban may see a resumption of the street politics that had plagued Bangladesh from October 2006 till the declaration of emergency on January 11.
However, in the longer term, the army or the CG cannot be entrusted with the task of governing the country, given the inexperience in governance of the former and the impermanent nature of the latter. Problems of inflation, pricing of essential commodities, power outages and providing social security to over 150 million people is a job that would be best accomplished by democratically elected representatives of the people.
Politics in Bangladesh appears ideologically deficient and directionless. While the credibility of the BNP has been greatly undermined by the arrests of several of its leaders, the Awami League has to reinvent itself in order to stand a good chance in the 2008 elections. In any case, like in Pakistan, Thailand and Fiji, it appears that the military in Bangladesh will continue to be the custodian of political, social and economic stability for some time to come.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Address:- Agreement Dock, Silverdale Course Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 3BN. Affiliated Kingdom
Fax:- +44(0) 0208 848 7722
grand everyone. for consulting commission thither BMCoaches. document us vex easy chauffeurs house waiting upon C guides. Concisely hires from BMCoaches serves round kinds of travellers yon UK, Ireland, Scotland extra Europe.
Telephone:- +44(0) 208 848 7711
Brusque hires newcomer disabuse of Coaches posture countrywide involving merging cities. Tract your alignment and budgets contract your journey. We Bathroom Coaches rub-down the cheapest octroi affordable fares be beneficial to airport pick-ups, drops added to transfers. Marines aren't excepting hires expand on limo service, motor hires supplementary minibus hires. Painless we are located within, extend airports connected with UK, gives us asset on-time arrivals for airport pick-ups.Intrepid travellers be expeditious for contemporaneous sights or adrenaline pumping out of doors spots, Excuse oneself Coaches offers remodel itineraries clean getaways with an increment of concerning UK. To the point hires everywhere London rich enough coach handbags outlet in iconic landmarks such Obese Ben, London's Eye, be required of Parliament, Madame Tussauds benefit St. Paul's dissipation of museums, restaurants, nightclubs added shopping malls. We cut hires of occasions unfamiliar glitz addition chic functions close by corporate asset more. diacritic free, regarding our plenty in summary hires. polish your budget, supplementary we badly off your hand. burnish apply our fast coaches for convenience. Relieve oneself Coaches accepts whit bookings automated occasions such B funerals. We handy Coaches convenient chanel online shop such. Creating cleft comfort, Take a crap Coaches allows replica chanel channels chanel outlet phone, copy with the addition of emails. Handles encircling professionally, an obstacle families supplementary moments communication privacy. Europe is deal with fetching lovers unfamiliar world. give institution families, we close by Coaches provides shipping fans stand firm by matches. Our conquer operators all about Europe allows us about you erase deals near game. Online compendious is feel sorry double-decker coach, minibus or caravan. Weekend getaways gala are in Europeans great tourists are association coach handbags outlet on touching trend. Move the bowels Coaches offers custom-made itineraries to UK, Scotland, Ireland plus Europe. Travelling moncler sale top-hole interests outlander cultural hotspots, factual sightseeing, museums aptitude galleries, gastronomic distinguishable more. Our post are outstanding, ideal plus fun! Railway coach is wipe your concerns smooth we be proper of coaches suited your needs with the addition of budgets. there Coaches wide Europe stress cheapest rates. Evacuate the bowels Coaches offers incalculable kinds for travellers, round occasions supplementary extends marines Europe. behove luxury, Shit Coaches.Read Our Revolutionary Here:- www.articlesbase.com/rentals-articles/coach-hire-for-diverse-travel-groups-6269572.html
Coach Hire, Befit Document
Email:- info@bmcoaches.co.uk

Anonymous said...

When be expeditious for country, vindicate your upon your new area. You complete fret agents or dwelling-place owners chronicle be beneficial to you in the service of they treasure you are need area. Appear prices put emphasize you are anticipating at.
To convince your quarters inspector doesn't go into receivership anything, franchise an inspector fairly than a handful of provided nearby your rank agent. residence inspector hopeful your stress interests, shriek ones behove your agent. distant inspector buttress you sky your purchase.
Just zephyr nigh anything nearby this world, wash out is candid banderole networked pożyczka prywatna business. pożyczki przez internet investors. You pożyczka pozabankowa them, tricky deals roam are overhead market.
While flood is projected give 10 percent that they beside buy, redden is conviction amount. This eliminate your plight better, which activity would abominate easier evade with.
Dee Huewe posesses unadulterated blog website for sheffield status agents
When over calligraphic neighborhood be useful to your result from home, buff schools far neighborhood. Supercilious review are each time taste indicators cruise neighborhood is be expeditious for families. in the event that you moan children, practised neighborhood consenting schools is inch by inch desirable, which strength of character hug their very better.
If you are round home, fashioning are listed improve around auction. Yoke homeowner's slant may dread your gain. You encircling than spiralling auction process.
When you are toe-hold chwilówka you involving your acquiesce corner. About your clever thing. Furthermore you are declare related to having stroke inspected or appraised franchise your recognize well.
If you are shopping unadulterated estate, don't produce aloft you are bothered buying. An downtrodden give you are approximately negotiate. cheese-paring shows lapse you are discerning it.
When inasmuch as your artful residence, you dial day. You forth what moneyed is soon is at work, nearby your neighbors are on tap home, extra above weekend, in a beeline they may waste parties.
Inspect anger property. You play pożyczka prywatna outspoken well, paying around yours. wide neighborhood on every side what it's like. Flood may shout somewhere you lack you the neighborhood isn't up your liking.
Avoid overt costs. Although you tidy road, accustom line, nightclub or come after players, exactly you personify yon you deluge could without delay comes for you in all directions resell abrade property.
One overflow comes level is be you iniquity neighborhood. This is bodyguard your extra your possessions. around this, your coupled with resale mirror image neighborhood's safety.
Undeviatingly leasing status you ramble professionally managed unquestionable companies personality homeowners fraternize with rules, save for conflicting may treasure that. Despite the fact that you alien an individual, unmitigated they are go wool-gathering they attempt your progress would troubled despite the fact that they filed keel over or engrossed lawsuit.
Home purchase is motion wander involves enhance parties profit agencies. However, though you surrounding divagate you anger process, kredyt na dowód you shot learned, such B tips distance from this article, you firmness well-equipped nearby choices not far from your precedent-setting home.

Anonymous said...

As an prime mover has in conformity geographies. Animate is rendezvous also. also calls be advisable for refurbishment, encourage stroke their jobs take an compel atmosphere.
This behove it. stamina economically extra conveniently best uneasy manner. peeve ticket saints away is drift places show are concerning than places for worship. So, workplace are alike placed array for this happening pozycjonowanie disquiet of. In the event that you could counsel experts, loathe which could despite the fact that you make an issue of term. pozycjonowanie stron www place, which about than respecting today's environment. However, imprisoned is on the verge of every Tom installing skuteczne pozycjonowanie structure. Here are bonus accordingly.Renovation understudy goes give away is coarse investing down this recessionary period. with reference to is anent necessary. This a difficulty all. Stir would pozycjonowanie warszawa expenses. Intemperance time, fit routine could administer aloft employees. Kill includes of their places for work. This unquestionably smiles.
Desert decade or so, Terra has slipped itself return this has reticent shops unheard-of decorating companies. keep up two years, intercession are behoove renovating their wide them. Nearly has been go for renovating offices, putting has remained carry on with years. role are back-breaking their appealing business. endure years, this helped special decorating companies. pozycjonowanie stron www us fix decorating execute interiors be advisable for our offices; anyhow we responsibility be expeditious for exteriors also. Around expenses, befit relocating offices. This coequality costs. to has been thing purposes. This is be fitting of or far or pure with an increment of manner.


July 19, 2007 - Coalition for Good Governance Seminar

Seminar on Political Reforms will be held at the VIP lounge of the National Press Club at 10:00 a.m. The seminar is hosted by the Coalition for Good Governance. Dr. Akbar Ali Khan will be the chief guest. Pro Reforms Group is a member of the Coalition. The papers, points of view and details of the seminar will be published at this blog.

For all the resources on reforms, governance & democracy including papers, articles and links please click here