Bangla ACOS slams elected democracy

[Saddle Bronc 124]

BBC Link

B'desh democracy fails, army says

Bangladesh's army chief says the country should not go back to being run by an "elective democracy".

He said democracy in Bangladesh had so far led to corruption, rights violations and criminalisation threatening the state's survival.

Dozens of political figures and their associates have been arrested on corruption charges since a state of emergency was declared in January.

The country is currently being run by an army-backed interim government.

'Persistent factor'

"We do not want to go back to an elective democracy where corruption becomes all pervasive, governance suffers in terms of insecurity and violation of rights, and where political criminalisation threatens the very survival and integrity of the state," Lt Gen Moeen U Ahmed told a conference in the capital Dhaka.

He did not elaborate on what kind of a system should be introduced as replacement.

He also blamed the corruption generated by continuous political turmoil as the reason behind Bangladesh's stunted economic growth.

"My contention is that had corruption not been a persistent factor, the full economic potential of Bangladesh could have been realised at a much faster rate."

Abuse of power

National elections had been scheduled to be held in Bangladesh on 22 January.

But these were postponed after weeks of political violence between the parties of former Prime Ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina.

Mrs Zia's tenure ended in October 2006 and the country has been in turmoil since.

Since the postponement of the elections, over 100 high profile political figures have been arrested for corruption and abuse of power.

They includes Tarique Rehman, Mrs. Zia's son, who was widely seen as her 'heir apparent' in the party.

The campaign is being managed by the interim government which is headed by an former central bank chief, Fakhurddin Ahmed, and has the full support of the military.

Bangladesh history since Partition (very incomplete list):

• 1947-08-14: Pakistan created, with two wings "East" and "West" separated by 1,600 km of India
  
• 1948: Urdu made national language of Pakistan
  
• 1952: Protests in East Pakistan demanding Bengali be officialised (as 58% of population speaks it)
  
• 1956-1971: Martial law in Pakistan
  
• Nov 1970: cyclone strikes at East Pakistan causing considerable damage and killing between 500,000 and 1,000,000 (Pakistan gov't claims only 207,600 as this is the number of bodies recovered)
  
• Dec 1970: election in Pakistan, Mujibur Rehman landslides East Pakistan with (theoretical) absolute majority in Parliament; Yahya Khan refuses to step down, and runner-up Zulfiqar Bhutto threatens "Khyber-Karachi Revolution" if Mujib assumes power
  
• 1971-03-26: Mujib arrested, Yahya launches "Operation Searchlight"
  
• 1971-11-21: Indian Air Force patrol foils a Pakistan Air Force incursion over West Bengal led by Pervez Mehdi (appointed chief of PAF 26 years later)
  
• 1971-12-3: War officially declared
  
• 1971-12-16: Pakistan defeated, surrenders at Dhaka
  
• 1972-01-10: Mujib released, flies to London, then back to Dhaka (via Delhi)
  
• 1975-08-15: Mujib murdered, Ziaur Rehman takes power
  
• 1981-05-30: Ziaur Rehman murdered in failed coup by Abul Manzur
  
• 1982-03-24: Coup by Gen. Hosain Ershad, martial law until 1990-12-06 when Ershad steps down due to corruption charges
  
• 1990-12-07 to Present: unofficially could be called "one party in power, other doing bandh"; describing Bangladesh's two main parties Awami League (founded by Suhrawardy, headed by Mujib followed by his daughter Sheikh Hasina Wajed) and Bangladesh National Party (founded by Ziaur Rehman, headed by his widow Begum Khaleda)
  

Not being a Bengali, I haven't a clue as to what would work for that country.

Edited April 2, 2007 by CherryXS

[mawilson 2,133]

For some civilizations, Despotism is still the best form of government.

The main problem with Despotism is food production. Under Despotism, any square

which produces three of an item (food, trade, or resources) produces one less item

than normal. This is a minor effect for trade and resources, but for food the results

are far-reaching.

Other government types aren't as hungry since irrigated river and grassland squares

produce three food, adding one extra food. They still must watch their food budget

when few river or grassland squares are available.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

(and mawilson's post shows he has no clue about South Asia as a whole).

[mawilson 2,133]

(and mawilson's post shows he has no clue about South Asia as a whole).

(and your post shows you have no clue about Sid Meier's Civilization so the joke was lost on you)

[Ban Hammer 14,448]

(and mawilson's post shows he has no clue about South Asia as a whole).

(and your post shows you have no clue about Sid Meier's Civilization so the joke was lost on you)

when i read the original i was like #######, it sounds like civilization

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I was really hoping Gupt would have some insight (as he is Bengali--though Indian, not Bangla) on this matter.

[almaty 19]

bro arijit and you, brother sriniv..have taught me more about pakistan and india than i ever learn in college...my thanks..dean

[Boiler 47,884]

Re-Colonisation.

Not sure who would take it on though.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Re-Colonisation.

Not sure who would take it on though.

The Chinese, if anyone. White people don't have the fire in the belly anymore.

On a serious note: Bangladesh is as screwed up as West Bengal is. I have no idea what the 'solution' might be. The only reason West Bengal screwups aren't as serious is because WB doesn't have its own military.