Future of Multiparty Democracy in

Bangladesh
Submitted by:
Obedur Rashid Bin Sakrat Kaderi
Id: 03105002
POL 101
Submitted to:
Dr. Abdur Rob Khan
BRA !ni"ersit#
Dhaka
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Introdu$tion:
The term democracy is derived from the Greek words, demos and Kratos, the former
meaning the people and the latter power. Democracy thus means power of the people. We
can say that democracy is that form of government in which the sovereign power of the
state is in the hands of the people.

Democracy is a continuing political process, which can only be sustained and developed
by giving due attention to certain issues. angladesh has passed !" years of its
independence, but it has failed to establish democracy as an institution. The country today
is riddled with under numerous problems threatening the very development of
democracy. #n the present concept, the prospect for a politically developed and
economically prosperous nation is marked by people$s eagerness to democracy and
progress.
#n this paper Se$tion A describes the current situation of angladesh$s politics, Se$tion B
describes the challenges to democracy in angladesh, %ection gives a detail overview
of prospects of democracy in angladesh and concludes the paper.
Se$tion A:
angladesh like most of the third world countries is facing twin challenges&
institutionali'ation of a democratic order and at the same time attains a target rate of
economic growth for development. ()ossain* %ince independence in +,-+, democracy
has been in crisis in angladesh. .t the beginning, the system of politics was fully
democratic in terms of the constitution. ut in a few years the structure and the character
of the fundamental law of the land was changed and the country$s political system was
turned into a one/party monolithic structure (.hemd, +,,0*.
The crisis of democracy deepened further with successive army interventions when
military leaders ruled the country. )owever, the 1rshad regime was toppled by a popular
man/movement in December +,,0 when the military withdrew its support ()alim, +,,2*.
y the +3
th
amendment of the constitution, we again get the taste of a ruling by a
+
democratic government. .nd till now in conceptually we are ruled by a democratic
government. .fter three national elections, we do not get the positive institutionali'ation
of democracy yet. The important mass media like radio, T.4 are being used as
government mouthpieces5 the 6udiciary is not separated from the legislatures which not
only make our democracy threaten but also decrease the growth of our economy.
Se$tion B:
Though we are electing party democratically but the party system is not following
democratic system. 7amily oriented politics are the main feature of our party system
which is threatening the democracy within the party.
#n our country, the rule of law became merely a farce instead of making up the sun that
shines on democracy ()ossain*. #n case of bails against any political issues, the 6udges to
the wishes of political masters.
Though 8G9 sector in angladesh developed the country a lot, it does not get the chance
to establish a strong civil society. #nstead of developing the civil society, our political
leaders increase the politici'ation of civil society. 8ow our intellectuals are merely the
prop of the ruling classes ()ossain*.
.t the time of the ritish era, our country gave birth to many great leaders like %here
angla etc. ut our great leader did not leave any successor. 9ur present political leader
do not hold image to unite the nation in a platform. 9ur political leaders do not have the
mentality to accept the progress of the society. They are not thinking about the future at
all, instead they are still arguing about the past.
:ocal government is one of the vital institutions of the democracy. Though we have local
government system, they are not working efficiently because of the national political
patroni'ation in them.
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Se$tion :
#n spite of numerous problems and obstacles in the run up of democracy in our country,
there are cheers for democracy envisaged in the very process of our politics and
governance. 9ne of the basic prospects of our democracy is that our people are almost
homogenous in their origin, socioeconomic and political belief.
9ur political system also invented a new system of election process which is care taker
government. #t is a huge achievement to reduce the contradiction of the ma6or political
party. 9n the other side people is more concern about the politics in recent year, but as a
lack of good politician they are bound in a circle.
8ow a day$s civil society is very conscious about various issues of democracy and
governance. ;ivil society responses against the government for any anti public interest, it
is a good sign of democracy.
#n this century, most of the press and media are en6oying the full independence. .s
government increase the rate of privati'ation, most of the sector, it increases the
competition to the press and media agency to show the true picture of the country.
on$%usion:
9ur country has a lot of problems in the way to democracy. #t has been facing various
problems to institutionali'e democracy since its independence. ut its prospects to in
democracy are not insignificant. .fter having lots of problems since +,,0 we are facing
many problems in the political system. ut still we are having a democratic way of
electing our representatives. 9ur main problem is not the democracy itself, but the mental
and socioeconomic situation of our country. #n spite of having these problems # think we
will democrati'e with a lethargic speed, because of our system. ut # think because of
the emergence of civil society and other features of the political system we will have a
democratic political system in the future.
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Re&eren$e:
1. .hmed, <oudud, +,,". Democracy and the challenge of development.Dhaka&
=>:.
2. )alim, <... +,,2. ;onstitution ;onstitutional :aw and >olitics& angladesh
>erspective. Dhaka& ?ico >rinters.
3. )ossain, .wal. Democracy in angladesh& >roblems and >rospects.
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