Bangladeshi exile plan backfires

The military-backed regime's failed bid to exile feuding former leaders may signal a political opportunity.

from the May 10, 2007 edition

Page 2 of 2

Page 1 | 2

Political foes unite to challenge regime

On Monday, Hasina defied the government's earlier threats and returned to the capital, Dhaka, to find thousands of her supporters had violated the emergency ban on public gatherings to receive her at the airport. In a rare gesture of civility, Zia welcomed her return, in what analysts say could signal the possibility of a united political movement against the current regime, which has suspended elections till late 2008.

According to media reports, key members in the current cabinet are now mulling the possibility of holding early elections to avoid the possibility of pro-democracy movements that might unite all the major political parties.

"The current regime should hand over power to an elected government as early as possible in order to avoid making mistakes like they did when they tried to exile the two leaders," says journalist and political analyst Ataus Samad.

Already the government's actions seem to be getting increasingly heavy-handed. On Tuesday it issued arrest warrants in the names of more than 5,000 Awami League activists, accusing them of violating the emergency rules when they gathered at the Dhaka airport to welcome Hasina.

On Sunday, the wife of a political aide to Zia filed a writ petition with the high court in Dhaka, challenging the constitutionality of the current regime.

The Awami League and the BNP have fared the worst in the military-backed regime's anti-corruption crackdown after it arrested over 160 top politicians and businessmen close to the parties, including Zia's elder son, in a corruption crackdown since January.

As the exile saga reached its climax, Washington and London – although accused of backing the current regime – criticized the use of intimidation to expel the two leaders.

"If the caretaker government does not take right decisions, there is a real threat to Bangladesh democracy and nobody wants to see that," US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said on April 24.

By April 25 the government, realizing it had painted itself into a corner, lifted all restrictions on Hasina's return and Zia's movements.

"In this modern day it is unrealistic to think of exile as a way of expelling or punishing someone," says Mr. Menon.

"This was not just an effort to expel two leaders, whatever the allegations against them may be," he says. "This was a plan to undermine the entire political process, and that's why it did not work."

1 | Page 2