mjza_wmch on "Bangladesh's political meltdown"

mjza_wmch — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 16:54:05 +0100

Bangladesh is a volcano waiting to explode. A tiny piece of land harboring 150 million people in a ecological quagmire. The rulers lack vision. During the last BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami rule under Khaleda Islamic fundamentalism was deliberately allowed to flourish to counter the secular AWL. AWL's leadership is wayward. It hardly has any vision to thrust the country into a modern secular democracy. The teeming illiterate masses are easily swayed by useless political rhetorics and gossips and rumors. The hot and humid climate may have something to do with our mindset. Poverty is a curse. It weakens our intellect and makes us vulnerable to religion based fundamentalist indoctrination. Naturally, Bangladesh will remain a breeding ground for religious fanaticism as long as the masses remain below the poverty line. Bangladesh has not produced any visionary politician who can lead at this moment. The army's recent intervention deserves applause but it doesn't have the brains to deliver. The bureaucracy is corrupt and is heavily polciticised into secular and fascist Islamic blocks. Poiticisation has slowly spread its tentacles into all spheres of life including academia. Bangladesh has a substantial population of Hindus, Christians, Buddhists and other religions. Their population is about 12-15% of 150 million. Bangladesh was created on the basis of secularism and all its people fought against the marauding Pakistani army irrespective of race, class, creed or religion. But since the putsch of 1975 after the assassination of the founding father by Islamic fundamentalist elements in the army the defeated war criminals of 1971 were rehabilitated and finally propelled into power in 2001 by Khaleda Zia. The Jamaat-e-Islami held very key portfolios like the industries, agriculture and social welfare from 2001 to 2006 till they were kicked out of power in 2007. During this time their dreaded SHIBIR cadres have heavily infiltrated key ministries like the industries, agricuture, education, police and even the army. They also seem to have won backing of the US State Department and EU. These war criminals instead of being prosecuted in the Hague for their war crimes in 1971 have instead strengthened their grip on politics exploiting the soft corner of villagers for religion. The unelected army backed government of 11/1 has also kept mum on prosecuting the Jamaat-e-Islami criminals. I think we need to immediately revert back to democracy ASAP by the end of 2007 and reform our moribund democracy by the cleansed elected parliament and it has come from within and not forced by an undemocratic unconstituional caretaker government that has exhausted its 90 days by doing nothing for holding a free and fair election in 2007. . The war criminals of 1971 should also be barred from running in the 2007-2008 national elections. Bangladesh's very existence will be shaken if the secular pillar of our democracy is sacrificed at the altar of religion.

Bangladesh's political meltdown, Timothy Sowula

Fri, 24 Nov 2006 00:00:00 +0000

The pre-election crisis in Bangladesh has concentrated power in the president and dispersed it to the streets. A longer-term solution is needed, says Timothy Sowula. Read the rest of this post...

open Democracy News Analysis - Bangladesh's political meltdown, Timothy Sowula - Comments

mjza_wmch on "Bangladesh's political meltdown"

Bangladesh's political meltdown, Timothy Sowula