The Remaking of Bangladesh's Politics: The Decline of the Two-Party System and the Rise of New Players
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: International Relations (India and its neighborhood - Bangladesh); Political Systems (Proportional Representation vs. First Past The Post).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 2 (International Relations): India and its neighborhood- relations; Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests. Political stability in Bangladesh is of paramount importance to India's national security (especially for the Northeast), economic interests, and regional stability.
Key Highlights from the News
After Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government was ousted, Bangladesh's political landscape is rapidly changing.
With the weakening of the two main parties, the Awami League and the BNP, which traditionally dominated Bangladeshi politics, a political vacuum has formed.
Into this vacuum, the National Citizen Party (NCP), a new party led by student protesters, and Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI), the country's largest Islamic party, are emerging as new political forces.
The current interim government is led by Nobel laureate Mohammed Yunus.
For the upcoming election, the NCP and JEI are strongly pressuring the interim government to implement proportional representation instead of the existing 'First Past The Post' system.
Unlike in the past, the Bangladesh military has adopted a muted stand, not directly interfering in politics.
It is crucial to see how these new political changes will affect the stability of India's neighboring country and India-Bangladesh relations.
COMMENTS