Bangladesh - from the street to the press

There are a lot of things I could be writing about in this post but feel it necessary to provide an update about what is going on in Bangladesh.

I am in the process of finding out, from my friends there, what exactly is going on. So I'll leave that part of this post out. And while I don't want this blog to turn into a link-to site there are a few good articles from reputable sites worth reading from. They are:

Mutiny Aftermath...

Bangladesh Mutiny calls for...

Mass grave found...

The challenge of trying to keep the situation going on in Bangladesh from afar is no simple task. What to say from the safety of distance? How to report 'the word from the street' while no longer on the street? Rhetorical questions abound. From what I have heard the new government means business in trying to create stability prior to and after the horrific event took place last week. These are not just words but tangible actions.

Bangladesh has become ingrained in my thought. As such I plan on keeping a close eye on the country both now and in the future.

On the road to finding out

After holding their first successful election since 2001 Bangladesh saw instances of violence against various political parties reach the newspapers almost immediately. These acts of striking out led to the harassment and deaths of a handful of political constituents across the country. Both heads of the Awami League and BNP have made subsequent press statements admonishing the violence and demanded an end to such behavior. Bangladesh has just one more election stage to go - the local district elections on the 28th of this month.

Being able to observe a country going through such a pivotal and historic change is quite amazing. With the last stage of the election process just around the corner it will be exciting to see how the new government goes about achieving its goal of creating a more peaceful and equitable Bangladesh.

Tang still tastes good

To begin, I did not end up living in my apartment like a hermit during the elections. I did demonstrate caution though and stayed at home during what felt like appropriate times. For example I didn't go out the night before the election. Nor did I walk around to the various polling stations in my part of town - though I wanted to.

The voting over who would have control of the government and Parliament went as well as any election in a free country could go. There were minor uplifts but no bombings or shootings at any of the election events. Back in 2004 these types of events did occur hence the amount of fear and over precaution everybody felt this time around.

In a landslide victory the Awami League, lead by Sheikh Hasina, won the election. Two days after the fact the official outcome announcement was made. While there were some victory parades no major clashes occurred. Peacefully demonstrated democracy never felt so palpable. There are still a few "ifs" and "wills" floating around. Will the fundamentalists try and attack the government once the energy from the election settles down? Will either Sheikh Hasina or Khaleda Zia still be held accountable for the corruption charges they faced prior to the election? No one really knows the definitive answer to any of these questions. For now people are just happy that everything went well. The "ifs" and "wills" will have to wait for another day.

Most of my time during the election revolved around watching CNN cover the election and current situation in Israel, re-discovering that Tang still has a soft spot in my heart and stomach, and building the first step towards a larger photography/writing project I am working on. To see it click here. You can also access the site by clicking on the Photography Portfolio link under the FP Picture option on the right hand toolbar of this page. I will keep the Flickr link going as well. The aim of this new site though is to frame the images I capture in a different context. I hope to develop the ideas I talk about under the Information tab on the new site into a larger project. Another new toolbar addition I added is the option for you to follow this blog. To learn how just follow the directions the pop-up window will give you after clicking on the "Follow This Blog" option on the right hand toolbar. I set this option up in response to the feedback on how hard it was to figure out how to receive updates under the older RSS option.

Enjoy the new additions and site.

-From Dhaka-

A guest in my own home

On December 29th Bangladesh will hold it's first national election since the caretaker government took control of the country in 2006.

The official state of emergency was lifted on the 17th of December. Since then the streets have been filled with marches, bands, and loud speakers attached to rickshaws and CNGs all blasting the positions of the election candidates. The energy here is heightened further still by the large presence of military and Rapid Action Battalion patrols roaming the city ensuring that the entire election process goes smoothly.

It is an exciting time to be living in Dhaka right now. Crowds can gather at a moments notice. Peaceful demonstrations can turn heated. No one is sure how the national elections and then subsequent local elections on January 11th will go. All eyes are zeroed in on the two major political party leaders- Khaleda Zia (BNP) and Sheikh Hasina (Awami League). Dhaka has become eerily quiet at night. During the day and into the early evening the sound of marches and rallies fills the air. I have talked with a lot of Bangladeshi's from both sides of the political spectrum. Each one of them is truly excited that the national elections are going to actually take place. Each one of them has also confessed doubt as to the legitimacy and transparency of whichever party ends up winning.

Given the uncertainly and safety surrounding the election VSO has requested that all their volunteers remain at home for the next three days. I will therefore remain, safe and secure, in my own home while the process of democracy unfolds.

It will be very interesting to see what happens next.

Election Buzz

December 29th is the planned date for the coming national elections. Bangladesh has been under a caretaker government since the winter of 2007. I thought it would be good to give some give some historical context surrounding this coming event. For a comprehensive timeline please click here.

1947- Partition from India - East and West Pakistan were formed.

1952- The language movement, Bangla becomes the official language in East Pakistan.

1970- Elections take place in East Pakistan: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Bangabandhu or "friend of Bengal"), with the Awami League, gain the majority in Parliament and this victory is then denied by West Pakistanis.

1971- War of Independence. The creation of Bangladesh is achieved at the cost of three million live.

1973- The country of Bangladesh see its worst drought since 1943. Many millions of people die. The country falls into deteriroration of law and order.

1975- Military coup. Sheikh Mujib and his family are killed. Only two of his daughters were able to escape.

1976- General Zia takes over the country and instills a autocratic rule.

1981- Military coup. General Zia is assassinated in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

1988- Devastating floods hit the country. In no time the whole country becomes flooded. Thousands of people die.

1991- Devastating cyclone. 100,000 people are killed

1991- The first democratic elections are held since 1971. The Bangladesh National Party (BNP) are elected to run the government.

1996- After five weeks of hartals (strikes) the BNP steps down. New elections are held and the Awami League win.

1998- Worst flood of the century hits Bangladesh. Water comes in gradually, the people are prepared and as a result very few people die.

2000- Opposition party walks out of the parliament. Collaboration between the government and the opposition party is not reached.

2001- Elections take place and a new BNP government comes into power.

2007- State of emergency is called amid violence occurring due to the coming elections.

2007- Cyclone Sidr hits killing thousands and leaving even more struggling to survive.