Bangladesh
Formerly East Pakistan, Bangladesh came into being only in 1971, when the two parts of Pakistan split after a bitter civil war which drew in neighboring India. One of the world's most densely populated countries, Bangladesh’s people are crammed into a delta of rivers that empties into the Bay of Bengal. A third of this desperately poor country annually floods during the monsoon rainy season, hampering normal economic development.
Bangladesh spent 15 years under military rule and, although democracy was restored in 1990, the political scene remains volatile. Antagonism between the Awami League, which governed until July 2001, and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party reflects personal animosity between leaders, rather than significant ideological differences. Political tensions have spilled over into violence; attacks have targeted political rallies and public gatherings. Senior opposition figures have also been targeted.
Politics are dominated by arch-enemies Begum Khaleda Zia, the chief of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and Sheikh Hasina, leader of the Awami League. Khaleda was prime minister between 1991 and 1996 and again from 2001 to October 2006, when she handed over power to a caretaker administration ahead of elections. Hasina was prime minister from 1996 to 2001. They face each other in elections in 2007, on a date yet to be determined.
Fakhruddin Ahmed, a former head of the central bank, succeeded Iajuddin Ahmed as interim government leader in January 2007. His predecessor had been titular head of state as president since 2002 and assumed leadership in October 2006 of a caretaker authority which aimed to lead the country to elections. However, he resigned from the role in January 2007 following weeks of violence and a threat to boycott the poll by a major alliance of parties, led by the Awami league. He cancelled the election, scheduled for January 22, and declared a state of emergency. The caretaker authority replaced Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia at the end of her five-year mandate. Violent protests over who should lead the three-month administration killed dozens of people and injured hundreds.
Bangladesh introduced the caretaker system in 1991 after military president Hossain Mohammad Ershad was toppled through a people's uprising led jointly by Khaleda and Sheikh Hasina, who now heads the main opposition party, the Awami League. The system, designed to prevent ruling parties from rigging polls, is considered to have worked generally well in three elections.
Bangladesh's major employer is agriculture, but it is unable to meet the demand for jobs. Nearly half of the population lives on less than one dollar a day. Many Bangladeshis emigrate for employment, legal or not. Bangladesh is trying to diversify its economy, with industrial development a priority. Overseas investors have pumped money into manufacturing and the energy sector. Onshore and offshore gas reserves offer hope for future prosperity. There has been a debate about whether the reserves should be reserved for domestic use or exported.
In recent years, Bangladesh has reduced population growth and improved health and education.
Although the country is traditionally religiously moderate and tolerant, a spate of bomb attacks in August 2005 raised concerns about extremism. The government, which long denied that it had a problem with militants, has outlawed two fringe Islamic organizations.
The relationship with India is of great importance to Bangladesh for geographical and historical reasons. Despite the Indian role in securing Bangladesh’s independence the relationship has often been troubled. One of the biggest issues is security; the Indians claim that Indian separatists are present in Bangladesh, a claim denied by the Bangladeshis. Other difficult issues are water-sharing, (more than 50 of Bangladesh's rivers cross the border). Illegal immigration and transit rights. Bangladesh and India have spoken of establishing a Free Trade Area, but there has been little progress on this so far.
Bangladesh is a member of the Commonwealth, the UN, SAARC and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). Bangladesh is a major troop contributor to UN peacekeeping operations and currently has more than 6,000 troops deployed in UN missions.
Although there have been a number of arrests and arms seizures since late 2005, a high threat from terrorism remains. Terrorists have intensified the scale and frequency of their attacks against domestic targets in Bangladesh. These have resulted in a large number of fatalities and serious injuries. Further attacks are likely. Western interests or Westerners could become the targets for attacks or kidnapping.
Attacks using explosive devices have taken place in locations throughout the country, including the Dhaka, Chittagong and the Sylhet regions. Some attacks have been undertaken against specific targets. Others have been indiscriminate and carried out in public places, such as courthouses, markets, shopping malls, cinemas, shrines, public transport and at cultural events and political gatherings. There have also been attacks against journalists and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The attackers themselves have been prepared to die in such incidents. In March 2006, the United States decided to suspend indefinitely its Peace Corps program in Bangladesh due to the possible threat from terrorist elements.
Protesters often take to the streets of Dhaka, Chittagong and smaller industrial cities with little or no notice. Protests frequently turn violent and close down traffic and business. In the capital area, likely rallying sites include Gopibagh and Sayedabad on the city's periphery, and in the city proper, at Gonantantra Square also known as Democracy or Gulistan Square; Banga Bandha Avenue; the Dhaka University campus and Manik Miah Avenue, which runs in front of the Parliament building. Violence is a particular problem on university campuses.
Since the start of 2006, there has been a marked increased in the number of rallies, demonstrations and public gatherings taking place. Since 27 October 2006, there has been widespread civil unrest across Bangladesh, particularly in Dhaka, which has resulted in up to 14 deaths and some 2000 injured. Further violent demonstrations are expected, especially in Dhaka, during the time of the caretaker government. General elections are due by January 2007. Exercise extreme caution and vigilance, particularly when traveling outside the Gulshan and Baridhara areas of Dhaka.
The period after Friday prayers can be a time of increased tension and at such times travelers should avoid crowds outside mosques.
Labor strikes are widely used as a means of political expression in Bangladesh. Numerous general strikes, or hartals, have been called by the political opposition in the recent past, resulting in disruption of transportation and commerce, and attacks on individuals who do not observe the hartals. Hartals can sometimes last several days (disrupting the availability of supplies) and can end in violence including deaths. Makeshift explosives and firearms have sometimes been used. Never attempt to cross picket lines. One resource for staying abreast of local protests is the Bangladesh National Strikes page for the British High Commission website at: http://www.ukinbangladesh.org/hartal.html
Security in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, which include the areas of Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban, continues to be a cause for concern (this is a separate security issue from the city of Chittagong). There is a risk of visitors to the area being caught up in violent disputes between rival political groups, clashes between such groups and the authorities, or of becoming victims of crimes targeted at foreign tourists. Disputes have led to protests and on occasion the blocking of main roads for several days. In February 2004, a person working for a tour company was kidnapped from a hill resort in the Bandarban area, and foreign guests were robbed at gunpoint. The Bangladesh authorities require foreigners who propose to visit the Chittagong Hill Tracts to let the local authorities have seven days' notice of their travel plans.
Avoid the Akhaura border area in Bramanbaria district, as there are occasional skirmishes between the Indian and Bangladeshi border guards, including heavy fire, and civilians have been accidentally killed in the crossfire.
Violent demonstrations in August 2006 in Phulbari, Dinajpur resulted in at least five deaths plus many injuries. The security situation in the Phulbari and Dinajpur districts in northwest Bangladesh remains tense, with the potential for further sporadic violence/unrest and the disruption of road and rail links between Dinajpur and other districts.
Be aware that if you or your parents are of Bangladeshi origin you may be considered by the Bangladesh government to be a Bangladeshi citizen, even if you have never held a Bangladeshi passport.
Bangladesh is located in a high-risk earthquake zone. Over the past year, there have been several recorded tremors, which have been felt in the cities of Chittagong and Sylhet.
As in all Islamic countries, travelers should dress conservatively and be aware of local sensibilities.
There is widespread flooding during the Monsoon between June and September, which disrupts travel, especially in rural areas. Verify that routes are passable before setting out on long journeys.
There are numerous safety and security concerns with various forms of transportation (see “Transportation” and “Crime” below).
Bangladesh has been ranked worst on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index for the past four years. An Independent Anti Corruption Commission was set up in the second half of 2004 after concerted donor lobbying but has yet to become fully effective. However, there has been little progress made on other key reforms, such as the separation of the Judiciary and Executive in lower level courts, and the formation of an independent Humans Rights Commission.
After the BNP government came into power in October 2001, attacks have increased against religious minorities including Hindus and the Ahmadiyya community. Towards the end of 2003, anti-Ahmadiyya groups grew more vociferous, demanding that the Ahmadiyyas be declared non-Muslim, and attacking Ahmadiyya mosques. The police have recently proved more effective at preventing some of the threatened sieges to mosques, but attacks continue to take place.
