Bangladesh Election Review in CNN

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What Sheikh Hasina should do now

Mridul Chowdhury
Publised in the Daily Star on 31 Dec 2008.

WE have made history! Not only in the national context, but also in the global context. Just when many were thinking that our country was increasingly falling within the grip of Islamic fundamentalists and that their religion-based fear-mongering campaigning was working, the people of this nation have spoken with decisiveness.

Yes, I voted

Naeem Mohaiemen

Published by the Daily Star on 30 Dec 2008.

8:00 We arrive at City College punctually. But, hmm, looks like everyone else had the same idea, only half an hour earlier than us. The lines are long and snake around the corner. On women’s line I spot Khushi Kabir (Nijera Kori), on men’s line Anisul Hoque (Prothom Alo). Bujhlam, they’re my neighbours in Dhanmondi.

Daring to Dream

Asif Saleh

Published in Guardian December 30th, 2008

Two miracles happened in Bangladesh yesterday. Firstly, 80% of the Bangladeshi electorate – a record number – voted in one of the most peaceful elections in the country’s history. Secondly, they voted for a party that believes in secularism and by a majority big enough for it to control 85% of the parliamentary seats.

It’s a resounding endorsement of democracy and an emphatic victory for pluralism in the world’s second-largest Muslim majority country. Although International media finds it easy to do a stereotypical portrayal of the “dysfunctional two begums“, the real story of Bangladesh, however, is in the details.

The secular vote bloc

Naeem Mohaiemen

Published by the Daily Star on 29 Dec 2008.

STANDING at many intersections. What were the arguments in favour of secularism? In the 1960s, a push-back against West Pakistani colonisation. In 1971, it was simply and joyfully, a decisive rejection of the Pakistan model. Later in the 1980s, it was also expanded to explain that religion was for private space, inner life, spiritual healing; but not for politics. Now in this decade, we also insistently emphasise that religion is to be respected (because secularism’s critics falsely accuse it of being anti-religion), but it should not be involved in the running of the state.

Election 2008: Youth Vote not Prisoner of History

For the first-time voters

Mridul Chowdhury
Published by the Daily Star on 28 Dec 2008.

A documentary film recently produced by Jagoree, a non-partisan political youth group, summed up many of the frustrations of today’s youth — many feeling that they are too insignificant a factor for change. In a Prothom Alo organised discussion with the first-time voters in Chittagong, the biggest frustration that came out of the 50 discussants was the fact that they felt that this election presented no substantial difference in the quality of candidates.

Keep them out!

Tazreena Sajjad

Published by the Daily Star on 26 Dec 2008.

HAS Bangladesh ever institutionalised a comprehensive vetting process, either in terms of war criminals or in terms of eligibility of political candidates for elections? No, and the absence of a sustained policy has ramifications in the 2008 elections.

Let’s begin with the issue of war criminals. It must be noted that while governments did not take the responsibility of weeding them out from the process, particularly post-1975, several key initiatives from private individuals and institutions tried to keep individuals out of the political process.

Election 2008: Don’t turn my mobile off

Naeem Mohaiemen

Published by the Daily Star on 26 Dec 2008.

IN Khagrachari this week for a pre-election visit, I saw the value of mobile networks even in the district that was last to get it and has the most sparse coverage. Because operators have not put towers everywhere, once you leave Khagrachari Sadar certain mobile operator networks go off. After eight hours in the interior, we would return to the Sadar and networks, and immediately find phones filling up with unread SMS.

Between ashes and hope

Naeem Mohaiemen

Published by the Daily Star on 24 Dec 2008.

IN Dighinala, the lead Jumma (Pahari) speaker switches to Bangla after the initial Chakma greeting. As I film the crowd, I can see scattered Bengali faces. Later I ask one organiser if speaking Bangla is a way to appeal to Bengali voters. “Yes,” he replies, “But don’t forget, not all Paharis speak Chakma.” Chakma, Marma and Tripura are the biggest presence at these meetings, but the official records show eleven different ethnic Jumma groups in Chittagong Hill Tracts.

In this last election week, jumping on the candidate’s ramshackle jeep (with prodigious horse power on the up-slope) is the easiest way to get around. I had taken a ride with the vehicle belonging to Ujjal Sriti Chakma, independent candidate running with support of UPDF. As we move between locations, I note the language changing.