Would Regional Autonomy Bring About Fulfilment of Hopes and Aspirations of the People? An Appraisal of Bangladesh Experience

1. General Pervez Musharraf, President of Pakistan during his visit to Dhaka during July, 2002 expressed regret over atrocities committed by Pakistan troops during Bangladesh's war for independence thirty years ago. ( The Hindustan Times , July, 31, 2002).

2. Robert A. Dahl writes, "The twentieth century was a time of frequent democratic failure. On more than seventy occasions democracy collapsed and gave way to an authoritarian regime. Yet it was also a time of extraordinary democratic success. Before it ended, the twentieth century had turned into an age of democratic triumph. The global range and influence of democratic ideas, institutions and practices had made that century far and away the most flourishing period for democracy in human history. First, in the course of century, the main alternatives pretty much lost out in the competition with democracy. Even by the end of the century's first quarter, the non-democratic forms, of government that from times immemorial had dominated beliefs and practices throughout most of the world monarchy, hereditary aristocracy, and open oligarchy - had finally declined in legitimacy and ideological strength. Although they were replaced by more widely popular anti-democratic alternatives in the form of fascism, Nazism, Lenism, and other authoritarian creeds and governments, these flourished only briefly. Fascism and Nazism were mortally wounded by the defeat of Axis powers in World War II. Later in the century, military dictatorships notably in Latin America, fell under the weight of their failures, economic, diplomatic, and even military (Argentina). As the last decade of the century approached the remaining and most important totalitarian rival to democracy. Laninism as embodied in Soviet communism abruptly collapsed, irrepairably weakened by internal decay and external pressures. So was democracy now secure throughout the globe?” (On Democracy, Yale University (1998). Pages 145–46).

3. Mostafa Golan , National Interest and Foreign Policy, New Delhi (1995), P.33.

4. Cited in Agrarian Impasse in Bengal: Agricultural Growth in Bangladesh and West Bengal 1949–80 , by Boyce, James K., Oxford (1987) p. 5.

5. Tara Chand Dr. , History of freedom Movement in India, Vol. 1, New Delhi (Reprint 1991) p.335.

6. Cited in Bangladesh, Background and Perspectives by Dr. Subhash Kashyap (ed.), Delhi (1971),p. 21.

7. Tinker, Hugk South Asia: A Short History, Macmillan (1989), p.254.

8. Ahmed Moudud , Bangladesh - Era of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman , Dhaka (1983), pp. 3–4.

9. Bangladesh was recognisted as an independent state in April, 1972 by the United States of America and by end of the year by various international institutions like the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and International Development Association. By the end of 1973, it had been recognised by 97 States including all major powers except China.

10. Chakrabarti S.K. , Bangladesh - the Evolution of Politics in Bangladesh 1947–1978, New Delhi (1978), p. 233.

11. Ibid., p. 36.

12. Ibid., p. 255.

13. Rounaq Jahan , Bangladesh Politics: Problems and Issues , Dhaka (1980), p. 201.

14. Howlader Sushil Ranjan , Bangladesh, New Delhi (1997), pp. 32–33.

15. Sobhen Rehman , Bangladesh, Problems of Governance , New Delhi (1993), p. 289.

16. Crude bombs were hurled at Khaleda Zia motorcade on January 24, 1995 at Dhaka (The Times of India, January 25, 1995). On 31st January 1996, the Prime Minister went to open 3 week-long Book Fair at the Bangla Academy adjacent to the Dhaka University. Sheikh Hasina's student front blocked the traffic and shouted slogans “Illegal Prime Minister” resulting in pitched battles between the police and the students (The Times of India, February 1, 1996).

17. An article “Banglaesh's Experiments with Parliamentary Democracy”, by Zillur R. Khan, Asian Survey, Vol. XXXVII, No.6, June 1997, pp. 574–589.

18. Muhammad Shamsul Huq , Bangladesh in International Politics - The Dilema of Weak States , New Delhi (1993), p. 32.

19. In October-November, 1994, The Commonwealth mediator Sir Ninian Stephen former Governor General conducted negotiations for over a month between the government and the opposition to resolve the deadlock of seven months but was totally disappointed and exhausted.

20. Rushi duzzaman M. , “Bangladesh in 2001 - The Election and a New Political Reality”, Asian Survey, Vol. XLII, No. 1, January-February, 2002 (p. 184).

21. The Hindu , August 30, 2001.

22. “The Overall Polling on Monday was Generally Peaceful”. ( The Hindu . October 3, 2001).

23. The Statesman , October 4, 2001.

24. The Hindu , October 5, 2001. The Statesman dated November 11, 2001 editorially "Enemy within - Hasina must engage in introspection' commented that the party had lost touch with the masses. Ministers usurped organisational power which they used to neutralise their rivals.”

25. The Hindu , November 29, 2001.

26. The Times of India , April 2, 2002.

27. The Statesman editorial “Politics of Hate”, March 27, 2002.

28. Ibid.

29. The Hindustan Times , August 11, 2002.

30. Ibid., pp. 38 and 46.

31. Nearly two million Muslims from 75 countries attended the mass peace prayer on the banks of river Turag near Dhaka on January 26, 2002, which was attended both by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the opposition leader Shiekh Hasina. ( The Hindustan Times , January 22, 2002).

32. In the article "Bangladesh at war with Itself', ( The Statesman , July 16, 2002). Bibhuti Bhusan Nandy castigates that BNP - Jamaat Cadres have killed and maimed hundreds of Awami Leaguers and subjected Hindus to organised looting, arson, and gang rape on unprecedented scale.

33. In Democracy (Harper Collins (1996), p. 326), Sanford Lakoff writes, "Democracy is a difficult enterprise. It relies on Represertatives who may betray their trust and it opens opportunities for the manipulation of public opinions and the concentration of resource by powerful intersect groups.”

34. The Hindustan Times , July 24, 2002. Among the most corrupt countries of the world, Bangladesh stand at the top of list at 102 (The Hindustan Times, August 29, 2002).

35. Faaland Just Parkinson J.R. , Bangladesh - The Test Case of Development , New Delhi (1977), p. 193.

36. At the beginning of 1975, there was an atmosphere of desperation in Bangladesh and people were losing hope that economic conditions could be improved. There was thus no surprise that Mujib alongwith his entire family was assassinated on August 14, 1975.

37. Ziring Lawrence , Bangladesh from Mujib to Ershad - An Interpretive Study , Oxford (∗∗∗1992), p. 221.

38. The Awami League government in mid-2001 claimed to have achieved a growth rate of 6% in the year 2000–01. ("Bangladesh in 2001,” by M. Rashiduzzaman, Asian Survey, Vol. XLII, No. 1, Jan.-February 2002.

39. Ibid., pp. 176–177.

40. Sanford Lakoff writes, “Autonomy is not the be-all and end- all of life but the opportunity to live a fulfilling life” and adds. “A world populated by peoples of different physical characteristics and cultural traditions, but with a common set of democratic, social and political values, is likely to be more harmonious than any international order so far experienced. Nationalism in its most strident and intolerant form represents a serious threat to this prospect.” Ibid., pp. 296 and 328–329.

41. Fowler Peter , “The Bangladesh Economy - A Regional Perspective”, Asian Affairs - Journal of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs, Vol. XXIX (Old series vol. 85), Part I, February 1998, p. 24.