The dominant role of bureaucracy in governance in Bangladesh is well-known. Bangladesh has been and continues to be an administrative state. The need for reforming bureaucracy was recognized even during the Pakistan times. However, all efforts to reform an entrenched bureaucracy failed to a large extent.
In the past decade, militant Hindu nationalism has emerged as a dominant political force in India, and it looks set to stay in the absence of a credible challenge from centrist and Left parties. The pursuit of an exclusivist agenda of ‘cultural nationalism’ (Hindutva) by the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Shiv Sena, and an assortment of other groups, that comprise the Sangh Parivar’, is seen as a threat to India’s pluralist traditions.
The focus in this book is on the important topic of poverty alleviation, in two relatively undeveloped areas in Asia, namely, West Bengal in India and in Bangladesh.
The book is about the identity politics in a post-colonial society that motivated the Bengali Muslims to participate in Bangladesh’s independence movement. Its approach is a major departure from the traditional analysis which tends to suggest that nationalist movement is a non contradictory political movement. To the contrary, the book argues, like all other social movements, the nationalist movement responds to restructuring the power relation in a society.
Bangladesh is a unitary state with “Westminster model” of governance, but the reality for governance is complex with a plethora of actors both at the national and international levels. The state of Bangladesh has yet not been characterized by features of good governance and democratic policy making regime. Rather favoritism, patron-clientelism and lobbying (Popularly called Tadbir) are very much parts and parcel of the governance and policy making process.
This book is the result of an empirical study aimed at analysing the results of the three parliamentary elections hold in Bangladesh under caretaker administrations since 1991, with special emphasis on the October 2001 election. It carries out an objective analysis of various aspects of the election including possible determinants of party performance and voter turnout and the impact of rebel candidates and other contextual variables on the outcome of the election. To-date, no study has been undertaken to offer an objective analysis of the election results.
Violence and injustice against women are common phenomena in Bangladesh due to the traditional patriarchal socioeconomic structure and mindset. Bangladesh has significant constitutional provision and statutory laws guaranteeing human and fundamental rights and women’s equal rights. However, poor quality of governance and non-implementation of these national policies have undermined the constitutional pledges.
The varieties, complexities and pervasiveness of development problems in an agrarian and poverty stricken country like Bangladesh are most acutely felt in the life of women, Due to the special nature of the economy and socio-cultural pattern, their participation is not visible, contribution not recognized and critical needs and issues are overlooked. The present study reviews women in development and policy in Bangladesh and reveals the existence of an undesirable but persistent pattern of exclusion of women from development activities.
This is undoubtedly the most authoritative book on local government in Bangladesh. Its comprehensive approach, analytical rigour, quality and currency of information have contributed to making it a recommended textbook in several universities both at home and abroad.
Elections under caretaker governments are a common practice to be found in most parliamentary democracies of the world. Usually an outgoing government acts as the caretaker administration. But Bangladesh has deviated from this established democratic tradition. The Constitution now requires that a non-party caretaker government (NCG) run the routine administration of the country for a limited period of time between the dissolution of parliament and the appointment of a prime minister after the constitution of a new parliament.