| Submit your comments on this article |
| Bangladesh |
| Bangladeshis enjoy pause in 'battle of the begums' |
| 2007-03-11 |
| Emergency rule by a military-backed interim government remains popular in Bangladesh which is in no hurry to return to the destructive “battle of the begums” between the leaders of its two main parties. Worn down by 16 years of confrontational politics under the leadership of Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Sheikh Hasina Wajed’s Awami League, ordinary people say they are happy to give the temporary government time to clean up politics before new polls. The two women - the word ‘begum’ is an honorific title - have each held the premiership and are each related to assassinated former leaders of the country. They are also said to hate each other. The impoverished nation’s highly polarised politics is said to reflect this, with each side boycotting parliament and resorting to violent street protests as a negotiating tactic while in opposition. The addition of widespread corruption among the political elite has brought many to believe that they are better off without their politicians - at least temporarily. “Everything is in order now and the present situation is good,” said bank clerk Abu Naser, 45, explaining that corruption had eroded the basic rule of law at every level in the country making life intolerable for the common person. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Begums Begin the Beguine |
| Posted by: abu Slappy 2007-03-11 03:48 |