Bangladesh Election: 2008

[thisismylife.co.uk]

Since independence Bangladesh has been through many forms of governance. From autocratic regimes, to self-styled democratic governments, who have honoured Bangladesh with a label as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

2008, is a special year, according to the interim-government of Fakhruddin-Ahmed, who has suggested that, fair and free elections will be held before the year ends.

What happens next?

[thisismylife.co.uk]

Bangladesh needs 'own democracy'
The chief of the Bangladesh army says the country needs its "own brand of democracy". Gen Moeen U Ahmed said the country had tried "Westminster-type parliamentary democracy" for the last 15 years and it had not worked.

The general said that in past elections, people had fallen victim to large-scale vote rigging. The army is the main backer of the country's interim government, which has pledged to hold elections in 2008. Correspondents say Gen Ahmed's comments are significant because the army will play a key role in determining when exactly the vote takes place.

Speaking at the launch of a compilation of his essays, Gen Ahmed said the country should have "a form of democracy that is suitable for us". "We have tried to practise Westminster-type democracy for the past 15 years," he was quoted by BDNews-24 as saying.

"In such democracies, the prime minister is equal to other ministers. But what happened here? Everything was with the prime minister." Correspondents say this is not the first time the general has criticised the system of government that was in place until a military-backed interim administration assumed power at the beginning of last year.

In April last year, he said the country should not go back to being run by an "elective democracy". He said at that time that democracy in Bangladesh had led to corruption, rights violations and criminalisation, threatening the state's survival.

Source > BBC News

[thisismylife.co.uk]

Electoral Reform: Parliamentary Elections
Parliamentary elections are covered by the Representation of the People Order which was enacted in 1972. Since then many amendments have been made to this law. In the past, concerns were raised in the manner elections were conducted. Money, muscle and misuse of power became the norms in the past and people genuinely longed for a free, fair and credible election from the Bangladesh Election Commission.

There were demands for reforming the system.

The Bangladesh Election Commission after its reconstitution in February 2007 assessed the situation and decided to start a process of electoral reforms. The Commission reviewed various research papers, documents, press reports and other materials available on this subject and prepared a list of refrom agenda on the basis of which a draft was prepared.

The first such meeting was held on 26-04-2007 in the NEC Auditorium with representatives of the civil society organisations, eminent persons etc. Another meeting was held on 23-05-2007 with editors, senior journalists and members of the media. Finally, a series of meeting are underway with the political parties.

The draft proposals have been reviewed at length and a number of changes have been made.

> Draft Recommendations on Reform of Election Laws [Bangla - PDF]

Via Bangladesh Election Commission

[Bangladesh Blogger]

If you are dreaming of an election in Bangladesh this, then dream on dude. For sure, there will be no elections in Bangladesh. You see, us poor folks in the desh are too busy to notice what happens in the upper-rooms.

I mean who cares about elections anyway?

Bangladesh was born out of a desire by the neglected east-Pakistanis to free themselves from hunger and oppression. Today, this same hunger and oppression still is a part of our life. The army is constantly showing this unfed nation, a dream of future prosperity through its guidance. Some might argue, this future prosperity will come at a high price.

For instance, we are a nation, who have been colonized so many times, we have managed to replace our own identity with convoluted mixture of imported lifestyle. We think freedom is just another commodity.

When we see the modern-version of television news in Bengali, or a live chat show where politicians are allowed to be openly questioned and criticized, we feel the soft-satisfaction of one day subscribing to a Westminster style democracy.

The absolute truth is, we will never be able to adopt such dignified maturity, I mean, the British have mastered institutional corruption - look at the amount of sleaze that has come out of there. They make much sexier headlines. Our politicians are so filthy, they would not dare sleep with one -another.

Going back to election matters, it doesn't really matter who runs the government. We would be more efficient as a nation, if we were managed by Wal-Mart?

Because we are so fed-up of the constant lies blurred out by old men and women, and members of their families, who are most ignorant and corrupt to the max! We are fed-up of cats and dogs fighting in the streets. We are sick and tired of everyday injustice in the name of politics. We are so sick, we would even love the East India Company as our masters.

You know, like the dog on the HMV (His Master's Voice).

Anyway, that's enough on this sickening issue.