Irecently spent time in Bangladesh as a member of a team organised by the National Democratic Institute, a group based in America that promotes democracy. We visited to provide an impartial, pre-election assessment of the electoral environment in anticipation of parliamentary elections in January.
Life is not easy in Bangladesh, where half of the 145 million population earn less than US$1 a day. Bangladesh's short history since independence from Britain - and then from Pakistan - has been savage and sad. The reason so many women have power is not because of any love of women's rights, but simply because so many male leaders have been assassinated and their political banner taken up by their widows and children.
Both the prime minister and the leader of the opposition are women and have their positions because of assassinations. When you listen to the complaints of Bangladesh's two main parties, the BNP (Bangladesh National Party), and the Awami League, they sound exactly like each other. Both list murders, assassinations, intimidation and corruption by the other as a reason for non co-operation and mistrust.
Parliament is often boycotted, each party taking its turn when in opposition. General strikes, organised by each side in turn, are the strongest display of political power and force.
A new and sinister development has been the intrusion of an extreme Islamic influence. The first suicide bombing - of two judges, in August last year - shocked both sides. A leaflet released that day described the coming election as un-Islamic because it was 'man-made'.
In light of all this, Bangladesh has instituted some unique constitutional arrangements. For three months before an election, a non-party, caretaker government is installed to put at arm's length an administration to whom the army, police and electoral officers are answerable. It's a good idea. But claims have emerged that the next caretaker government will not be independent, and may not be chosen through political consensus.
