[Reader-list] BANGLADESH: Yes, I Voted

[Naeem Mohaiemen]

Everyone is a bit stunned at the size of the Awami League victory.
Personally I get nervous about brute majority, I hope it does not go
to their head. I hope we do not get the Mujib of 1969, and not the one
of 1974, who cancelled multi-party democracy.

However, on personal note, I am very happy that the Islamists were
crushed at this election. In 2001 they won 17 seats, and were given 2
ministries. Now they have won in only 2 seats. All major Jamaat
leaders were defeated in the seats they ran from.

Let us see. I think calling it "second independence" is hyperbole and
sets us up for disappointment. Rather let's keep level head and keep
the pressure on. Last night Abul Barkat (author of comprehensive study
on Hindi disenfranchisement, whom I quoted in a recent report) was
pointing to the religious/ethnic minority candidate victories and
saying the overall election was a landslide mandate for secularism.

Well easy to say those things on election day. I remain cautiously
optimistic, and committed to keeping the pressure up to build secular
Bangladesh.

And saludos to the youth vote-- 52% of the total electorate.
http://unheardvoice.net/blog/2008/12/28/mohaiemen-rtv2/

On Tue, Dec 30, 2008 at 1:59 PM, Kshmendra Kaul <kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Dear Naeem
>
> That is a very nice piece by you.
>
> Wish Bangladesh all the best. Hope the elections live up to what has been
> called Bangladesh's "second independence". Hope it is the final one.
>
> Best regards
>
> Kshmendra
>
>
> --- On Tue, 12/30/08, Naeem Mohaiemen <naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> From: Naeem Mohaiemen <naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Reader-list] BANGLADESH: Yes, I Voted
> To: "reader-list at sarai.net" <reader-list at sarai.net>
> Date: Tuesday, December 30, 2008, 9:02 AM
>
> Crushing defeat for Islamist candidates in the 9th Bangladesh elections.
>
>
> Yes, I Voted
> Naeem Mohaiemen
> Daily Star, December 30, 2008
> http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=69228
>
> The Secular Vote Bloc
> Naeem Mohaiemen
> Daily Star, December 29, 2008
> http://unheardvoice.net/blog/2008/12/29/secular-vote/
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