Is Bangladesh A Democracy or Autocracy?

The political impasse in Bangladesh is slowly turning worse. Today we have seen that the even the judiciary is being controlled by some force and the violent reactions of politically charged lawyers are criminal actions.

It is clear now that the nation is divided in two streams and one cannot stand another. There is no mutual respect or common goal - serving the nation. The current politics of Bangladesh is simplified by Professor Mahfuz R. Chowdhury, who teaches Economics at C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, USA. He says:

"...politics in Bangladesh is now controlled by money and muscle. The current system works in a simple process – the leaders gain power, extort massive amount of money, and then use that ill-gotten money to buy muscle, which is then used to manipulate election. This is precisely what is happening in Bangladesh. Since the main source of money is state power, there is always strong competition among the hordes of politicians wishing to join the winning party. The more corrupt a politician is, the bigger are his chances of being accepted, because his ability to bring in money and muscle through corruption would strengthen the party he joins.

Politics in Bangladesh is currently being influenced by two major political parties – Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). In the center of controversy there are two inept women who lead AL and BNP, the two major parties in the country. Ironically neither one allows democratic practices within their respective parties anymore. Any party member who dares to question their authority is quickly sacked or faces intimidation.

They are evidently bent on destroying each other in order to grab state power, even if it comes at a tremendous cost to the people and the economy. To gain state power they are even prepared to forge alliances with their past enemies, such as the party which is allegedly promoting fundamentalism in the country, and the military dictator against whom they supposedly once fought to rescue the country."

And he echoes the views of millions of Bangladeshis:

"People are losing patience with both parties and want change fast. One can easily sense this from the kind of reception the newly formed Liberal Democratic Party is getting in the country. Judging from their past activities, no sensible person will bet on the ability of the two women leaders to steer the country in the right direction. It is now high time for everyone in the country to face the reality."

Read the whole article published in the American Chronicle.