THE MASKED DEMOCRACY IN BANGLADESH

Bangladesh is one of the world’s most densely populated countries. Its major population lives below the poverty line. They spent their livelihood on less than one dollar a day. The major employment is in agriculture, still it is not able to provide job to the population.

Bangladesh came into existence only in the year 1971, when the two parts of Pakistan - East Pakistan and West Pakistan got split.  Its neighbouring country India played a major role for its independence. In initial stages, Bangladesh spent 15 years under military rule and the Democracy came in 1990. Analyst says that the differences between the two main parties –the Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party- reflect personal differences between the leaders rather than any ideological differences.

Since starting, political tension caused violence that is also found in practice in recent times hundreds of people have been killed in recent years. Attacks have targeted opposition rallies and in public gathering senior opposition figures have also been targeted. The major concern is about the growing religious extremism in usually moderate and tolerant society. Bangladesh has been criticized for its human rights record, with particular concern about assaults on women and allegation that police use torture against those in custody.

In recent elections, which took place in January, a deepening conflict which arises between Bangladesh, two main political parties in which opposition party ( Bangladesh Nationalist Party) boycotted the Bangladesh election after the governing Awami League rejected the demand of B.N.P to put in a place a non partisan caretaker government to oversee the voting, which had been customary in recent years and was seen as a protection against government manipulation.

Because of this it produced a bizarre election, especially given Bangladesh’s tradition of boisterous democracy. Pro-government candidate  ran unopposed in more than half of the parliament’s 300 seats in those districts, local election were not held, leaving 48 million registered voters without any opportunity to vote.

The U.S.A has called for fresh polls in Bangladesh that reflects the will of the people, even as it expressed strong concern over the just concluded general election which it alleged was neither credible nor fair.

“We have been very clear about our strong concerns about the selection and what we think the way forward should be. We believe Bangladesh still has an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to democracy by organising free and fair election that are credible in the eyes of the Bangladeshi people”. State Department Deputy Spokesperson, MARIE HARF said.

She also said that we did note that we were disappointed by the recent parliamentary elections, especially because so many of the seats were uncontested or only had token opposition. Bangladesh still has a chance to have a different future.

. Yet India, Bangladesh’s giant neighbour and the only foreign power that could have swayed the decision to go ahead with a vote, chose not to intervene. However, India’s decision to give its implicit backing to an election with a predetermined result may prove short-sighted. Anti-Indian sentiment in Bangladesh has already surged.  As conflict worsens, India’s ally, the League, risks being seen as anti-Islamic. Backing Sheikh Hasina’s power grab is likely to give India the opposite of what it wants: a more radical and less secular Bangladesh.