Crisis in Governance
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Crisis in Governance Crisis in Governance: Military Rule in Bangladesh during 2007–2008 By M Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury Crisis in Governance: Military Rule in Bangladesh during 2007–2008 By M Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury This book first published 2019 Cambridge Scholars Publishing Lady Stephenson Library, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2PA, UK British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Copyright © 2019 by M Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury All rights for this book reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. ISBN (10): 1-5275-3642-4 ISBN (13): 978-1-5275-3642-5 To the late editor Alhaj Azizur Rahman Chowdhury, my late father, Ratnagarva Sharifa Aziz Chowdhury, my late mother and Bangladesh, my country. TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ...................................................................................................... xi Foreword by Justice Mohammed Abdur Rouf ......................................... xiii Foreword by Dr Charles Che Fonchingong .............................................. xvi Preface .................................................................................................... xviii Abbreviations ......................................................................................... xxiii Introduction ............................................................................................... xv Chapter One ................................................................................................. 1 Bangladesh’s Democratic Development 1.0 Introduction ...................................................................................... 1 Part 1 ...................................................................................................... 2 1.1 Legacies of external intervention ..................................................... 2 1.2 British legacy ................................................................................... 3 1.2.1 Positive aspects ....................................................................... 3 1.2.2 Negative aspects ...................................................................... 5 1.3 Pakistan legacy ................................................................................ 7 1.3.1 Positive aspects ....................................................................... 7 1.3.2 Negative aspects ...................................................................... 8 1.4 The war of the secession ................................................................ 10 1.4.1 Positive aspects ..................................................................... 11 1.4.2 Negative aspects .................................................................... 12 Part 2 .................................................................................................... 15 1.5 Historical Institutionalism (HI) ...................................................... 15 1.6 Chapter conclusion......................................................................... 19 Chapter Two .............................................................................................. 22 Governance of Bangladesh 2.0 Introduction .................................................................................... 22 Part 1 .................................................................................................... 23 2.1 Theoretical perspective .................................................................. 23 viii Table of Contents Part 2 .................................................................................................... 27 2.2 Democracy in Bangladesh ............................................................. 27 2.3 A democratic upheaval after independence .................................. 32 2.4 The restoration of democracy in 1991 ........................................... 33 2.5 Crisis in the Governance ................................................................ 36 Part 3 .................................................................................................... 39 2.6 Historical Institutionalism, Critical Juncture and Path dependency ...................................................................... 39 2.6.1 Historical Institutionalism in Bangladesh .............................. 40 2.6.2 Historical legacy .................................................................... 42 Part 4 .................................................................................................... 43 2.7 Obstacles to democratic consolidation ........................................... 43 2.7.1 Authoritarian governance ...................................................... 43 2.7.2 Crisis of identity .................................................................... 43 2.7.3 The issue of national unity .................................................... 44 2.7.4 Political enmity and division ................................................. 45 2.7.5 State orchestrated violence .................................................... 45 2.7.6 Corruption ............................................................................ 46 2.7.7 Politicisation of administration .............................................. 46 2.7.8 Politically biased judiciary .................................................... 47 2.7.9 Ineffective parliament ............................................................ 47 2.7.10 Practice of different governing systems .............................. 48 2.7.11 The idea of a Caretaker Government ................................... 50 2.7.12 Demand, establishment and abolishment of CTG ............... 51 2.7.13 External factors ................................................................... 53 2.7.14 Military intervention............................................................ 54 2.8 Chapter conclusion......................................................................... 55 Chapter Three ............................................................................................ 59 The political conditions in Bangladesh prior to the CTG Takeover in 2006 3.0 Introduction .................................................................................... 59 3.1 A much talked of trump card in politics: Dateline 30 April 2004 .. 61 3.2 The Hawa Bhaban issue ................................................................ 62 3.3 The author’s appointment issue ..................................................... 64 3.4 Extension of retirement age of judges ............................................ 67 3.5 Claims and counter-claims in the formation of alliances ............... 68 3.6 The ambition of some government officials .................................. 69 3.7 President’s 23 days coma following a heart attack ........................ 70 3.8 The tug of war between NSI and DGFI, two intelligence agencies................................................................ 72 3.9 Aminul Karim’s ‘military kayda’................................................... 75 Crisis in Governance: Military Rule in Bangladesh during 2007–2008 ix 3.10 Political fragmentation ................................................................. 78 3.11 Onset of political discord ............................................................. 78 3.12 Logi-Boitha (Paddle-Sticks) ........................................................ 81 3.13 Fall-out of Two-third majority ..................................................... 82 3.14 State of army on the eve of takeover by CTG .............................. 83 3.15 A State of Emergency about to be declared on 29 October 2006 ............................................................................. 85 3.16 Five options for appointing the Chief Adviser were exhausted ... 86 3.17 Reasons of political confrontations .............................................. 88 3.18 Army Chief General Moeen’s Plan .............................................. 90 3.19 Reform in administration and unity in Army ............................... 93 3.20 The author’s position for democracy ........................................... 95 3.21 Chapter conclusion ....................................................................... 98 Chapter Four ............................................................................................ 105 Background of the 2007 military intervention in Bangladesh 4.0 Introduction .................................................................................. 105 4.1 Theory related to military Intervention ........................................ 106 4.2 All parties’ participation in the planned elections of 22nd January 2007 ....................................................................... 108 4.3 The role of the Army .................................................................... 110 4.4 The role of civil society ............................................................... 113 4.5 The role of the media ................................................................... 114 4.6 The role of businessmen .............................................................. 116 4.7 The role of foreign diplomats ....................................................... 117 4.8 Media and rumour mongering ...................................................... 119 4.9 The media discover