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Bangladesh House set for dissolution

Haroon Habib

DHAKA: Bangladesh's eighth Parliament, which came into being on October 1, 2001, through controversial elections, has been prorogued for eventual dissolution on completion of its five-year term, creating a landmark for the nascent democracy.

The legislative body completing its full term of five years is an important event in Bangladesh where most Houses in the past were dissolved in the wake of unconstitutional takeovers.

Except the seventh Parliament during Sheikh Hasina's tenure (1996-2001), all others, including that of the Pakistan era, were short-lived either due to political killings or military takeovers.

The forthcoming general elections have already created controversies and uncertainties with the two main contenders for power — Awami League and the BNP — differing on amending the provisions of the caretaker government.

According to the Constitution, an interim government must conduct the elections.

However, as the Khaleda Zia's Government prepares to relinquish power within three weeks, the much-awaited dialogue between the two major parties kicked off on Thursday to break the impasse over electoral reforms. The Awami League and its allies announced that without reforms they would boycott the elections.

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