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Political crisis in Bangladesh

Bangladesh politics revolve around three political parties.


1. Awami league led by Sheik Hasina. (Ruling party)
2. B'desh National Party(BNP) led by Khaleda Zia. (Main Opposition)
3. Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist, anti-liberation party and ally of BNP. However, Supreme
court of B'desh banned it from contesting elections.
Political parties in B'desh are defined on the basis of their approach towards India. BNP and
Jamaat are anti-India and the latter wants a Islamic rule in B'desh. Awami league is painted
as pro-India, while it can be said that the party is only India-friendly.
The present crisis in B'desh is related to the way to go about in conducting elections. At the
centre of this issue is the caretaker government.
Caretaker government
It is a system wherein a non-partisan interim administration oversees elections and
checks any misuse of power by outgoing party.
Caretaker govt. has been managing elections in B'desh since 1996. In 2007 with the
backing from military the caretaker govt. ruled the country without any legitimacy
and handed over the power to Awami League after it yielded majority in 2008
elections.
Crisis
Awami League repealed the 13th amendment in 2011 which abolished the caretaker
govt. citing the reason that it exceeded its mandate and delayed elections for 2 years.
The abolition was fiercely opposed by all opposition parties stating that Hasina govt.
is trying to win next elections through manipulation.
In 2013 Hasina govt. invited all parties to join "All-party govt" to oversee elections
but opposition parties refused and boycotted elections. Awami went along to conduct
elections despite violent protests across the country.
Awami won majority seats expectedly as the voter turnout was very low and there
were no principal opposition parties.
Reactions
Western powers didn't recognise the election as it didn't represent the majority of
electorate's will and termed the govt. not credible.
Meanwhile, India, Russia and China have endorsed the elections stating the
elections abided to the constitutional process. They called for political stability
through dialogue and negotiations.
Present situation
Awami league wants BNP to cut its relation with radical Jamaat party to
continue negotiations but BNP not ready to do so.
BNP leaders facing charges over embezzlement of charitable funds which is
further delaying the negotiations between two parties.

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