The status of democracy in Bangladesh
Thursday, 22 March 2012
Akib bin Anwar
Freedom House and Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU), two leading institutes for monitoring democracy and people's freedom, categorise all the democratic states of the world. Bangladesh, in the report of Freedom House, is one of the 'partly free democratic countries' of the world. Simultaneously, EIU, in its report, stated that Bangladesh has a flawed form of democracy. Now, the question is about the gap between the expectation and performance of Bangladesh as a democratic country.
Bangladesh emerged as an independent country with the dream of establishing democracy for all citizens. In December 2011, Bangladesh celebrated its 40th year of independence. But the dream has not been realised even today. The people in Bangladesh are in a state of frustration because of the flouting of democratic practices by the political parties.
People's sovereignty is the main ingredient of democracy. People in the democratic system practice sovereignty through parliament. But in Bangladesh, parliament, as a democratic institution, does not function properly.
A strong opposition and multi-party system are two preconditions for consolidating democracy. The political system of Bangladesh has failed to produce a strong opposition party with a shadow government. As a consequence, accountability is hardly noticeable in our political culture.
Political parties are regarded as the engine for the practice of democracy. But in Bangladesh, intra and inter-party democracy does not exist. In all political parties the common trend that is - "the front benchers are the gainers." The ruling political party has a tendency to take the benefit of the absence of floor crossing system.
Governments of Bangladesh have a strong tendency to view all criticisms of its policies as subversive activities against national unity and solidarity. In 2010, the government used Section 144 at least 114 times to stop opposition's movements.
Politics has been stunted since the military began interfering in the country's politics. In these four decades, Bangladesh had suffered almost two decades of military rule. For the rest of the time, military influenced policies as a moderator. Successive governments showed an inclination to appoint military in high posts and policymaking apparatus. As an inexorable outcome, a power game between military and civil bureaucrats took place in the political system of Bangladesh.
Regarding women's participation as a key parameter for measuring democratic maturity, there are six female ministers in Bangladesh. But women cannot ensure their participation rather only presence due to patriarchy and dominant network of male counterparts. They can only play a passive role in the system. An ADB report affirmed that, 70 per cent of the women councillors interviewed in Bangladesh were not aware of their rights and responsibilities. Forty per cent of the interviewees expressed their lack of confidence in the policymaking mechanism.
Politics in the country has suffered due to corrupt politics and dynastic rule. Although it is said that western democratic values are ill-suited for Bangladesh as well as in South Asia, but the main cause behind our democratic immaturity is that our politicians take democracy as an instrument, not as a value.
Despite all these, our democracy has some constructive outcomes. Strong civil society, powerful media and pressure groups are instances of the strength of our democracy.
But we have so many predicaments and lacking in our practice of democracy. There are many disquieting elements existing in our political system. These constitute a real threat to democracy. But people of Bangladesh are by nature peace loving, they want peace and prosperity. Democracy is the only means to ensure maximum peace and pleasure to the maximum number of people. We are optimistic about overcoming all challenges in the way of establishing a mature democracy in Bangladesh.
E-mail: akibdu89@yahoo.com
Freedom House and Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU), two leading institutes for monitoring democracy and people's freedom, categorise all the democratic states of the world. Bangladesh, in the report of Freedom House, is one of the 'partly free democratic countries' of the world. Simultaneously, EIU, in its report, stated that Bangladesh has a flawed form of democracy. Now, the question is about the gap between the expectation and performance of Bangladesh as a democratic country.
Bangladesh emerged as an independent country with the dream of establishing democracy for all citizens. In December 2011, Bangladesh celebrated its 40th year of independence. But the dream has not been realised even today. The people in Bangladesh are in a state of frustration because of the flouting of democratic practices by the political parties.
People's sovereignty is the main ingredient of democracy. People in the democratic system practice sovereignty through parliament. But in Bangladesh, parliament, as a democratic institution, does not function properly.
A strong opposition and multi-party system are two preconditions for consolidating democracy. The political system of Bangladesh has failed to produce a strong opposition party with a shadow government. As a consequence, accountability is hardly noticeable in our political culture.
Political parties are regarded as the engine for the practice of democracy. But in Bangladesh, intra and inter-party democracy does not exist. In all political parties the common trend that is - "the front benchers are the gainers." The ruling political party has a tendency to take the benefit of the absence of floor crossing system.
Governments of Bangladesh have a strong tendency to view all criticisms of its policies as subversive activities against national unity and solidarity. In 2010, the government used Section 144 at least 114 times to stop opposition's movements.
Politics has been stunted since the military began interfering in the country's politics. In these four decades, Bangladesh had suffered almost two decades of military rule. For the rest of the time, military influenced policies as a moderator. Successive governments showed an inclination to appoint military in high posts and policymaking apparatus. As an inexorable outcome, a power game between military and civil bureaucrats took place in the political system of Bangladesh.
Regarding women's participation as a key parameter for measuring democratic maturity, there are six female ministers in Bangladesh. But women cannot ensure their participation rather only presence due to patriarchy and dominant network of male counterparts. They can only play a passive role in the system. An ADB report affirmed that, 70 per cent of the women councillors interviewed in Bangladesh were not aware of their rights and responsibilities. Forty per cent of the interviewees expressed their lack of confidence in the policymaking mechanism.
Politics in the country has suffered due to corrupt politics and dynastic rule. Although it is said that western democratic values are ill-suited for Bangladesh as well as in South Asia, but the main cause behind our democratic immaturity is that our politicians take democracy as an instrument, not as a value.
Despite all these, our democracy has some constructive outcomes. Strong civil society, powerful media and pressure groups are instances of the strength of our democracy.
But we have so many predicaments and lacking in our practice of democracy. There are many disquieting elements existing in our political system. These constitute a real threat to democracy. But people of Bangladesh are by nature peace loving, they want peace and prosperity. Democracy is the only means to ensure maximum peace and pleasure to the maximum number of people. We are optimistic about overcoming all challenges in the way of establishing a mature democracy in Bangladesh.
E-mail: akibdu89@yahoo.com