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Bangladesh

Country profile

Bangladesh experienced its third democratic election in October 2001 and power switched from the Awami League to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) headed by Begum Khaleda Zia, a legendary woman with a long and dramatic history in politics.

A four-party alliance was created which still holds the political power today. Democracy is however relatively young and fragile in a nation ruled by military dictatorship from its independence in 1975 till the first election in 1991.

Being a Muslim state, Bangladesh today makes a strong plea for a consensus based international approach to combat terrorism and is an active partner of the Non-aligned Movement (NAM). In spite of a vigorous election manifesto where BNP committed itself to reforms promoting good governance, the establishment of rule of law and the promotion of human rights, Bangladesh remains stunted by corruption at all levels and severe constraints in the implementation of good governance and thereby, in effect, violation of basic human right. There is, however, no doubt that the hard-pressed Bangladeshi population wants to be active players on a true democratic scene for the benefit of sustainable development for all, free from abject poverty.

More about Bangladesh