Bangladesh — on the march to authoritarianism?
Politically, Bangladesh has come full circle to the tipping point it faced almost 40 years ago. The election of January 5 brought one-party government back. History tells us that the next likely step is a consolidation of a one-party government into a one-party state. But history does not always determine politics. “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over,” and Bangladesh has a way of confounding pundits who predict its future. Remember, for example, that famous 1972 prediction that it would be (forever) ‘a basket case’.
The Awami ...
The Awami ...
18 dead, polling booths firebombed as Bangladesh votes
Thousands of protesters firebombed polling stations and at least 18 people were killed as violence flared across Bangladesh Sunday during a walkover election boycotted by the opposition.
Police said they had opened fire at protesters as they torched more than 200 polling stations and stole and burnt ballot papers to try to sabotage the poll.
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Men attack a polling station in the northern Bangaldeshi town of Bo...
Men attack a polling station in the northern Bangaldeshi town of Bo...
Tensions mounting as violence to follow election
Tensions are mounting on the streets of Bangladesh, as many here expect violence to follow the 10th national parliamentary elections.
The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said on Thursday night that the government is pushing the country towards “a civil war” through the “farcical” polls.
Analysts worry ongoing political violence will hurt Bangladesh’s economy over the long-run.
USAID urges Hasina to hold credible election
Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Dr Rajiv J Shah has written a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and urged her to find an agreed path to hold a free, fair and credible election.
“The people of Bangladesh want free, fair and credible elections. I urge you to find an agreed path to holding the elections that the Bangladeshi people so deeply want,” he said in the letter to the Prime Minister.
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Foreign investment proposals almost halved due to blockade
Looming uncertainty in the political arena and its ultimate consequences through continuous violence on the streets for the last couple of months have restrained foreign entrepreneurs from making fresh investments in Bangladesh.
The number of proposals for fresh investments by foreign entrepreneurs has halved within a month, according to sources, reports the Independent.
The Board of Investment (BoI) received only seven proposals in October against 15 in September this year. The amount of proposed investment against those projects also declined drastically. The foreign companies proposed to invest only $20 million in October against a commitment of $1,915 million in September. The number of local investment proposals also de...
