Bangladesh politics still ‘complex and fragile’

DHAKA, (AFP)

Bangladesh’s political situation remains “complex and fragile” less than three weeks before it holds elections to restore democratic rule, an international research institute said Friday.

The Brussels-based International Crisis Group, which tracks conflicts worldwide, warned that the country’s powerful military may not be ready to bow out of politics. “The political situation is complex and fragile,” the group said in a statement.

“Regardless of who wins the election, the next government and the opposition parties will face the challenges of making parliament work and contending with an army that wants a greater say in politics.”

Bangladesh’s army-backed government is expected on Wednesday to remove a state of emergency that has been in place for almost two years and will hold national elections on December 29, the first in the country in seven years.

The mainly Muslim but secular country of 144 million, formerly known as East Pakistan, has a history of instability, coups and counter-coups since winning independence from Pakistan in 1971. The current regime came to power in January 2007 after violent clashes between supporters of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Awami League prompted the army to step in, impose the emergency and cancel polls.

The ICG also called on those with a stake in the vote, as well as the international community, to ensure the elections were credible and peaceful. It said the vote and an end to emergency rule did not equal democracy, but were both essential to eventually ensure stability in the country. “Talk of delaying elections has understandable attractions for leaders afraid of underperforming at the polls,” said Michael Shaikh, Asia senior analyst for the ICG. “But there is no viable alternative to timely elections.”

The ICG said the left-of-centre Awami League, led by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed, was viewed as a frontrunner while the right-leaning BNP, led by her rival and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, was in disarray.

Although the full emergency will be lifted on Wednesday, parties were permitted to start campaigning from Friday. The Awami League launched its manifesto in the capital Dhaka, with Sheikh Hasina promising to address spiralling food prices, provide economic security and clamp down on Islamic terrorism and corruption.

Zia was due to announce her campaign pledges later Friday. Over the past two years the interim authorities have pushed through key electoral and political reforms, including a crackdown on corruption, which saw both Zia and Sheikh Hasina detained for a year on graft charges.

Both women have been released on bail in deals with the government to ensure their parties take part in the elections. They have both denied being corrupt.