Last chance for Bangladesh

The latest twist in the political impasse in Bangladesh is the temporary release of the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for medical treatment in the US. Sheikh Hasina – who is being held for correction charges – has been allowed to leave the country for eight weeks to get treatment for hearing, eyesight and blood problems.

The saga ended months of negotiations between the military backed government and the leaders of the Awami League who maintained that their participation in any reform discussions could only take place if the former PM was allowed to receive medical attention abroad.

It seems that the Government has finally buckled under the pressure and agreed to the demands. It is not clear how serious Sheikh Hasina’s condition is or how long it will take. Having failed in its attempt to send the former PM into exile, the Government may have finally reached a compromise which can bring part one of the saga involving two former PM’s to some sort of an end. It is unclear whether Sheikh Hasina will return to Bangladesh in time for the local elections being planned for December. In April last year, the Government failed in its attempt to block Sheikh Hasina from entering the country after a personal visit abroad. The chances of her returning this time seem slim. This is the first piece in the jigsaw that will see the two former PM’s going into exile. Khaleda Zia, the other former PM, was also encouraged to go abroad for medical treatment last year but refused. She too is currently awaiting trial for corruption charges with her two sons.

It has been a longstanding view of the current caretaker Government that reform of Bangladesh’s political institutions will not work until the two former PM’s remain key players within their respective parties. Although the women have consistently denied the various charges brought against them, the Government is determined to press ahead with their reform agenda. Progress has been slow but Bangladeshis’ need to be patient because a great deal is at stake. The caretaker Government has made significant strides to bring order to the country’s alarming level of lawlessness which brought about the suspension of Parliament and Parliamentary democracy in October 2006. Since then, political activity had been suspended and thousands of arrests made including many MP’s and Ministers on corruption charges.

Bangladeshis’ need to show strength and resolve as the caretaker Government attempts to clean up one of the most corrupt states through some tough measures. Unless they are allowed to see through much needed reforms, the last chance for any meaningful progress will be lost again for a further unspecified period of time. Too much is at stake and Bangladesh cannot afford another 1/11.