Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia

Published date01 June 2008
DOI10.1177/002070200806300215
AuthorYasmeen Mohiuddin
Date01 June 2008
Subject MatterMovers & Shakers
| 461 | International Journal | Spring 2008 |
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Yasmeen Mohiuddin
Sheikh Hasina and
Khaleda Zia
Bangladesh’s military is desperate to bring down these two former
leaders—and it’s dragging the whole country down with them
Cyclone Sidr was not the only storm to wreak havoc on Bangladesh last fall.
The never-ending feud between the country’s former leaders, Sheikh Hasina
and Khaleda Zia, continued to paralyze Bangladesh’s long-suffering political
system. This time however, both women had to defend themselves from be-
hind bars.
When the interim government declared a state of emergency in January
2007 after cancelling elections set for later that month, it did so to curtail
the violence that had erupted as a result of Zia’s handpicked caretaker gov-
ernment. To ensure that elections are free and fair, it is mandatory that the
incumbent government resign in the three months running up to the vote
and give way to an independent interim administration that oversees the
election. In keeping with the culture of paranoia that justifiably overshadows
Bangladeshi politics,Hasina—and her party, the Awami League—led the
protests against the selected caretaker, Iajuddin Ahmed, whom they accused
of favouring Zia. Ahmed’s resignation did nothing to quell the violence be-
Yasmeen Mohiuddin is a regular contributor to International Journal’s movers & shakers
rubric.

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