In recent weeks Bangladesh has been the stage for widespread political violence. So bad has it been that the country’s president agreed to postpone this month’s general election last week and declare a State of Emergency. He then resigned his position. International diplomatic pressure and internal opposition from the Awami League and other parties, who felt there was a danger of a “rigged” election, left the President with little choice but to step aside to be replaced by a neutral, former Supreme Court judge. The UN and EU both withdrew their support for the election. Ban Ki-moon, the new UN secretary-general, was reported as saying that the political in-fighting had “severely jeopardised the legitimacy of the electoral process”.
More than forty people have lost their lives in the intensifying clashes between supporters of rival political parties. Over 60,000 troops have been deployed within the country and curfews have been announced, all in an effort to quell the street violence. Since the State of Emergency was declared on January 12th, over 2000 “agitators” have been arrested.
International commentators are far from positive about the future of Bangladeshi democracy. A recent Economist article was of the opinion that the caretaker government system employed to oversee general elections was now defunct. Indeed, they feared that role for the military was increasingly looking likely in any future political process.
Clearly, the present political situation in Bangladesh is looking gloomy. What must be remembered, however, is that Bangladeshi democracy is still evolving. It has been doing so since its independence from Pakistan in 1971. The last three General Elections in 1991, 1996 and 2001 have seen record turn-outs, suggesting that confidence in the political process had been growing. Concerns about military involvement, a perennial fear amongst Bangladeshis, appear to have been assuaged by the former President’s spokesman, who indicated last week that the army would have no role in the government. In a country with a history of 19 assorted coups and 2 presidential assassinations (both of which affect the relations between the present leaders of the two major parties), this statement was very important.
For Bangladesh to continue enjoying the economic growth it has seen over the last 15 years, it desperately needs the relative political stability it has recently experienced to continue. The Conservative Friends of Bangladesh (CFOB), of which I am a committee member, continues to support secular democracy in Bangladesh. Like all interested international parties, it is eager to see fair and free elections taking place in Bangladesh. The active support of the CFOB for Bangladeshi democracy was shown by a recent group trip to Bangladesh headed by our Chairman, Anne Main MP.
A General Election recognised by the international community will be one that allows Bangladesh to continue on its difficult path to respectable governance and economic success. I hope that, despite recent setbacks, Bangladesh maintains the undoubted progress it has made along this path over the last two decades.
December 12th, 2007 - 2:01 pm
no things
February 25th, 2009 - 12:12 pm
this is unbelevable bengaliz fighting bengaliz we need to stick together no matter wat nd show the world wat bengaliz r all abowt
February 25th, 2009 - 12:13 pm
stoneybronx bengaliz all da way
February 25th, 2009 - 12:16 pm
green nd red fresh owt da desh bangladesh were ever we enter we fuk da sene up so beware mudafokerz we cumin 4 u pakiz 1971 bak 2 life
March 4th, 2009 - 2:44 pm
SUB : AN APPEAL FOR JUSTICE TO SAVE TO PROTECT OPPRESSIVE LAWS Dear Sir, From 1972 after independent, Bangladesh Nationals started to establish Industries investing family resources ,using Innovative Technology as self earner to achieve Economic Freedom & to create jobs for millions of unemployed when almost everything was damaged due to Liberation War and These Entrepreneurs are commonly know as 1st ( first ) Generation Industrial Entrepreneur of Bangladesh Government also started to help these fast growing PRIVATE SECTOR INDUSTRIES AS IMPORT SUBSITUTES and for EXPORT having fund from International Loan Giving Agencies which were distributed through different Banks from 1979 Unfortunately the Owners of these Industries became helpless victims of deep rooted conspiracy, continuous harassment and Anti Propaganda. The Bank officials refrain themselves from ascertaining production capacity of imported machineries and to provide required working capital loan in time extending non-cooperation harassment, negligence and fraudulent activities. And all these have been done willingly just to jeopardize the Government Industrial policy as well to terrorize the Owners of Industries of Private Sector finally to occupy the Mortgage Properties of the owner of the Industries under Private Sector. s Due to such activities Hundreds and Thousands of Industries were destroyed by Bank Officials and Policy Maker. Over and above capitalizing the Illiteracy, Ignorance and Extreme Poverty of vast majority of Bangladesh Citizens .Most of these laws were forced upon the Citizen including, Owner of the Industries of Private Sector in co-operation with their alliances who are busy to convert Bangladesh a Bottom less Basket Again Due to such activities most of the Industries have became in-operatives and have lost their Cash Capitals, Expatriate Capabilities and became helpless victims of oppressive laws. Due to absence of minimum accountability from Banking Sector to the office of Land Survey Departments . In 1992 & 1996 Government of Bangladesh identified and registered many Industries as SICK INDUSTRIES declaring not as Defaulter of Bank Loan but victims of Violation of Contract , Negligence , Fraudulent or Malpractices of Bank Officials. And Policy Maker due to Lack of Accountability. And the matter of Lack of Accountability at every stage of Bangladesh is no more a hidden Matter. THE HELPLESS OWNERS OF INDUSTRIES ARE LOOKING FOR JUSTICE, BUT THE DOOR OF FAIR JUSTICE ARE CLOSED Due to Enactment of a Law Know as ARTHA RIN ADALAT ACT ( Bank Loan Recovery Act ) on 1989 which were amended on 2003 and 2007 . Bank Ruptcy Acts were also enacted on 1997 depriving the Owners of Industries under Private Sector from not only basic right but also from fair justice like those of Colonial Period WHEN THE HANDS OF THE PRODUCER AND TECHNICIAN OF MOSLIN FABRICS ( which were only produced in Bengal of undivided INDIA) were cut down to stop production of Finest Fabrics by Bengali Technicians and Producer. But surprisingly the ARTHA RIN ACT are not applicable for Nationalized or State Sector .where BILLIONS OF DOLLARS are spend till today without any accountability. Out of Total of outstanding defaulted Bank Loans, about 60 to 70 % are lying with Nationalized / State Sector and less then 10 % are lying with Small and Medium sized Industries of Private Sector of Bangladesh. And Bank Official can explain well about the remaining of the Loan Amount. THE LAW OF TORTS & LAW OF CONTRACT ARE MOST COMMON LAW , BUT APPLICATION OF THE SAME ARE RESTRICTED IN BANGLADESH . Due to which BANGLADESH HAS BECOME A HEAVEN FOR REPRESSION / EXPLOITATION Forcing the process to increase Poverty line in Geometric Ration & also helping the process of Lawlessness and Human Trafficking . The Owners of Industries of Private Sector can
June 17th, 2009 - 1:53 pm
There may be MORE THEN TEN LACKS suit / litigation pending in the Court of Bangladesh which are increasing everyday Many of the litigation or Suit are due to force full occupation of land of innocent land owner ignoring documents and title right by Power full Groups and Local Miscreants (Commonly known as Social Worker) most of such occurrence are happened in whole country and largely in DHAKA CITY Surprisingly Government Organization like Land Survey Department , Settlement Office and their Subordinate Office are also responsible for such activities as they issue records & parcha to the force full occupier ignoring right full ownership of land And due to ABSENCE OF TORT LAW in Bangladesh and lack of accountability of the official , correction of such land records through the the Existing System of Court is matter of few Generation or a life long litigation , by this time the face of land changes to different shape with the help of above mentioned peoples or officials and many of the Murder , Killing are also responsible for such activities, Our MINISTRY OF LAND , MINISTRY OF LAW; MINISTRY OF HOME & MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT may kindly take action at earliest possible time to help and stop such process by abolishing LAW OF POSSESSION RIGHT or the related laws and shall take immediate steps to kindly adopt or application of LAW OF TORT in Bangladesh. for THE GREATER INTEREST OF NATION , TORT LAW IS PART AND PARCEL FOR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS TO ESTABLISHED ACCOUNTIBILITY OF EVERYBODY And Government may have details of the statistics country wide if some Non- Government Organization like Micro Credit Operator or other NGO working at root level are allowed to conduct survey from union level to the Dhaka City having provision of sport correction or reification.. No extra fund will be required for allocation by the Government but will create opening to know the statistics of anomalies or malpractice of the above Department . It will be highly appreciated if you kindly circulate the above in possible way for creating awareness among the people and international community as well as Patriot Political Worker . Leader or Intellectual Group of the Country . The Peoples
August 2nd, 2009 - 12:00 am
Hindu style police beating. I strongly expressing my hatred against this kind of harshness. This kind of ancient hindu style harsh policing is not frequently seen in these days.