In a week set to be dominated by the Obama inauguration, spare a thought for a long-awaited election in a different part of the globe. This election may not have received the same wall-to-wall coverage but it still offers hope in its results that came in during the final days of 2008. As a bespectacled sari-clad 60something, Sheikh Hasina Wajid may not have the same powerful imagery attached to her as the youthful iconic Obama but her sweeping victory in Bangladesh’s first elections for seven years may turn out to be just as significant. For starters an election held in peaceful conditions with no real contestation of the final outcome surprised many. The record turnout has parallels with November’s voting in the US.
The politics of Bangladesh have been dominated by dynasties for aeons. While commentators have continually claimed that the ideological difference between the defeated BNP (Bangladesh National Party) and Awami League were based more on the personalities of the two women leaders Khaleda Zia (vanquished) and Sheikh Hasina Wajid (winner) clear dividing lines did emerge throughout the election campaign. The BNP who were always the more right-wing of the two ran in coalition with the religious grouping Jamat Islamia – despite the founding principle of Bangladesh as a secular state.
As I’ve pointed out on this blog before Bangladesh is a young democracy. Big issues that face it today include human rights, electoral stability and climate change. I was last there in March 2008 on a Foreign Office “Engaging with the Islamic World” delegation, visiting inter alia university campuses, broadcasting studios, a rural school in Sylhet backed by the British Council and a voter registration centre on the outskirts of Dhaka. The queues of colourfully attired women and children patiently waiting in line to be enfranchised was a memorable sight. In the event international observers attest that the elections of 2008, which were originally due to have taken place in early 2007, went off remarkably peacefully. The BNP notably are not seriously contesting the results. There has been no rioting in the streets.
Women at the helm goes against received stereotypes in a culture where people always assume the fairer sex are downtrodden specimens. Indeed women have been heads of state in Bangladesh twice, and in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
I would say that as in closely watched US elections, in Bangladesh too the prospects look good – even if the elections there barely registered in the UK media. After years of uncertainty and near-paralysis with rule from a caretaker government, things appear to be on the up. One of the phrases that Bangladeshi politics is most commonly associated with, “military rule” is coming to an end. Let’s hope that the other one, “corruption” can too be wiped out. After all we’re still at the start of a new year, so surely ambitious resolutions are still permissible.