বাংলাদেশ « BĀ~LĀDĒŚ » (EAST)
— Officially: গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ « Ganaprajātantrī Bā~lādēś ».
— English: (Eastern) Bangladesh.
— Seat of government: ধাক « D‛āka ».
— Status: Questionably democratic.
— Structure: Parliament (জাতীয় সংসদ « Jātīja Săsad ») is elected in geographical constituencies, with reserved seats for women assigned proportionate to party representation, and chooses the prime minister. Parliament also chooses a president, mostly a ceremonial office.
— Chief governing party: বাংলাদেশ আওয়ামী লীগ « Bā~lādēś Āojāmī League ».
— Head of government: শেখ হাসিনা ওয়াজেদ « Śēk‛ Hāsinā Ojājēd », prime minister.
— Chief opposition party (not in parliament): বাংলাদেশ জাতীয়তাবাদী দল « Bā~lādēś Jātījatābādī Dal », led by খালেদা জিয়া « K‛ālēdā Jijā ».
— Assessment: Very unstable semi-democracy led by mercurial rivals (the “two বেগম « bēgam »”) who have alternated in power since the restoration of democracy in 1991; শেখ হাসিনা « Śēk‛ Hāsinā » (1996-2001, 2009-) is the daughter of শেখ মুজিবর রহমান « Śēk‛ Mujibar Rahmān » (1971-5), who led the state to independence (1971) and served as the first head of government, until his assassination in a coup, while খালেদা জিয়া « K‛ālēdā Jijā » (1991-6, 2001-6) is the widow of জিয়াউর রহমান « Jijāur Rahmān » (1976-81), the military dictator who eventually took power after the coup, until his own assassination. That eventually led to the military dictatorship of হুসেইন মুহাম্মদ এরশাদ « Husēin Muhām:ad Ērśād » (1982-90). The practice in the latest democratic period had been to establish a non-partisan interim administration headed by a chief advisor to oversee elections; but the আওয়ামী লীগ « Āojāmī League » threatened to boycott elections scheduled for 2006, based on accusations of partisanship against the president, ইয়াজুদ্দিন আহমেদ « Ijājuddin Āhmēd » (2002-9), who was also at that time serving as chief advisor. He eventually resigned as chief advisor, replaced by ফখরুদ্দীন আহমদ « P‛ak‛ruddīn Āhmad », and postponed the elections; the military intervened on the grounds of corruption, making army chief of staff মইন উ. আহমেদ « Main U. Āhmēd » the effective head of government. Both of the political leaders faced prosecution, with most of the charges likely true. An election in late 2008 resulted in a near-sweep of parliamentary seats for the আওয়ামী লীগ « Āojāmī League » and its allies, ending military rule. A 2014 election was boycotted by the opposition.
— FH: 4-4, partly free (democratic). Econ: 5.52 (91), hybrid.
— Updated: 2015 March 22.
O.T. FORD