Bangladesh in 2005: Standing at a crossroads

Asian Survey

Volumn 46, Issue 1, 2006, Pages 107-113

  Riaz, Ali ^a  

^a ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

GOVERNANCE APPROACH;

ASIA; BANGLADESH; EURASIA; SOUTH ASIA;

EID: 33646795299     PISSN: 00044687     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1525/as.2006.46.1.107     Document Type: Article

References (16)

1. "RAW Behind Blasts, Claims Nizami," New Age [Dhaka], August 21, 2005, p. 1. The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is the external intelligence service of the Indian government.
2. "Mufti Hannan Captured: Militant Kingpin Tells of Altaf s Assurance of 'No Fear'," Daily Star [Dhaka], October 2, 2005. Mufti Hannan was convicted by a court in 2003 for attempting to kill then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2000.
3. "Politicization of EC: 150 JCD Men Made Election Officials," ibid., September 21, 2005, p. 1.
4. The Thirteenth Amendment of the Bangladesh Constitution, passed in 1996, stipulates that upon dissolution of Parliament at the end of its term, an 11-member, non-party caretaker government headed by the chief advisor will function as an interim government for 90 days. The amendment provides that the immediate chief justice would be the head of the caretaker government, which will be dissolved on the day a new prime minister assumes office. In 1995, when the AL demanded that the caretaker government be included in the Constitution, many analysts suggested that this would not guarantee fair elections, arguing instead that the EC, the independent constitutional body, should be strengthened and freed from the influence of the executive branch. AL leaders rejected the idea at that time.
5. "AL, Allies Announce Agenda for Caretaker, EC Reforms," ibid., July 16, 2005, p. 1.
6. These are members of a Sunni subsect of less than 150,000, who have been living in Bangladesh since the 1900s. They are the followers of Mirza Ghulam Ahmed, a reformist, and are also referred to as Quadianis.
7. "Rules of Mustaque, Sayem, Zia Unlawful, Declares HC; Verdict Stayed at Night by Chamber Judge at His Residence," ibid., August 30, 2005, p. 1.
8. "Attorney General Resigns," Bangladesh Observer, April 29, 2005, p. 1.
9. See .
10. Nurul Kabir, "Country Helpless Against Pervasive Corruption," Weekly Holiday (Dhaka], July 8, 2005, p. 1.
11. For example, the European Parliament adopted a resolution expressing deep concern over the Bangladesh situation on April 14, 2005.
12. "Donors Warned Not to Interfere," Daily Star, March 16, 2005, p. 1.
13. "Donors Can Leave If They Can't Adjust to Our Policy," ibid., March 17, 2005, p. 1.
14. The group comprises the ambassadors and high commissioners to Bangladesh from 14 countries, including the U.K., U.S., and Japan. The representative of the EC and the resident coordinator of the U.N. are also members of the group.
15. For details, see Ali Riaz, "Bangladesh in 2004: The Politics of Vengeance and the Erosion of Democracy," Asian Survey 45:1 (January/ February 2005), p. 117.
16. "Indian and Local Criminals Jointly Staged August 17 Blasts: BDR Chief Alleges as Delhi Talks Conclude," Daily Star, October 1, 2005, p. 1.