The results of 2008 are a big shift from the results of the last standing election in 2001. That election saw the right-wing BNP win 193 seats to Awami's 62, and the main Islamist party take 17 seats. In contrast, the 2008 elections see the Awami-led coalition take more than 260 to BNP's 31, and the Islamist party "almost wiped out". Note that there are 300 seats in the Bangladeshi parliament.
Between floods, poverty, cyclones, and military intrusions into politics, it seems unlikely that Bangladesh would be able to sustain democracy. And there certainly remains a possibility that the opposition parties will cause a ruckus and incite more violence. Hopefully the will of the people will be respected, and the "caretakers" will step aside as planned.
Hot off the presses: Uh-oh.
Bangladeshis line up to vote (courtesy of the CBC)
1 comment:
A little sketchy.... What caused the huge voting shift? Is the Awami League just "secular", or are they significantly to the left of the BNP? Is Bangladesh bucking the trend towards stronger Islamist parties? If so, why?
And when will you give us an article about Somalia? I'm dying for some clarity on that can o' worms.
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