Hammer-fist
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The last military "coup" in Bangladesh was in 2007. It was technically not a "coup" but phrased as the military supporting the administration of a caretaker government.
The reality was that it was a military takeover with however the military not ruling the country but entrusting most administration to a technocratic government headed by former American-based World Bank official, Fakhruddin Ahmed.
Technically what happened was the then "Chief advisor to the caretaker government" Iajuddin Ahmed (who was termed president before the caretaker government) announced a state of emergency on 11th January 2007 and declared a new team of advisors to head the country led by Fakhruddin.
In reality the army in conjunction and with the authorization of the USA instructed Iajuddin Ahmed to do this.
The caretaker government administered the country for less than 24 months, i.e. 2 years.
Though its governance was widely seen as efficient and gave hope to many Bangladeshis as to the quality of administration they as a nation were capable of recieving it did not live up to its expectations of ensuring a permanent change in the heavily polarized and combative nature of Bangladeshi politics.
Minus 2
A phrase that became prominent was "Minus 2" referring to the removal of the "2 Begums", i.e. the 2 ladies that ran both of Bangladesh's main parties i.e. Hasina Wajid of the Awami League and Khaleda Zia of the BNP. Both were arrested but both are now active in Bangladeshi politics having re-assumed their roles of prime minister and opposition minister which they have over the years rotated.
Minus 2 did not happen.
The army-backed government punished what had been the ruling party of that time, the BNP, and put many of their leaders in jail far more than they did with the Awami League. BNP and Jamati partisans claim this is because of a conspiracy, others however say that as the BNP had run the country for half a decade and looted the country for 5 years the military would naturally target those who were in government stealing, rather than those in opposition who were out of office and unable to steal.
There have perhaps been some long-term benefits albeit not as much as most would like.
The new Hasina administration has definitely been more responsible by its standards than in its previous term.
The image of the former prime minister of Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia, in tears and her 2 corrupt sons beaten up is perhaps the most lasting image of this period and was perhaps meant as a clear message to all politicians in Bangladesh from the military, that nobody was untouchable and could ultimately be punished, thus politicians should not engage in corruption, this being the chief problem Bangladeshis had with Tariq Zia and his brother, Cocu.
Tariq Zia, son of the former Bangladeshi prime minister, Khaleda Zia beaten by Bangladeshi security forces.
Now with elections looming again in Bangladesh, and one party Jamat e Islami threatening civil war and rioting many Bangladeshis in a state of concern and unease fear there may yet again be another unofficial military coup 7 years after the last. 2 military coups in a decade, not anything to be proud of for any country striving to be a democracy.
What will happen if there is another military takeover?
@asad71
The reality was that it was a military takeover with however the military not ruling the country but entrusting most administration to a technocratic government headed by former American-based World Bank official, Fakhruddin Ahmed.
Technically what happened was the then "Chief advisor to the caretaker government" Iajuddin Ahmed (who was termed president before the caretaker government) announced a state of emergency on 11th January 2007 and declared a new team of advisors to head the country led by Fakhruddin.
In reality the army in conjunction and with the authorization of the USA instructed Iajuddin Ahmed to do this.
The caretaker government administered the country for less than 24 months, i.e. 2 years.
Though its governance was widely seen as efficient and gave hope to many Bangladeshis as to the quality of administration they as a nation were capable of recieving it did not live up to its expectations of ensuring a permanent change in the heavily polarized and combative nature of Bangladeshi politics.
Minus 2
A phrase that became prominent was "Minus 2" referring to the removal of the "2 Begums", i.e. the 2 ladies that ran both of Bangladesh's main parties i.e. Hasina Wajid of the Awami League and Khaleda Zia of the BNP. Both were arrested but both are now active in Bangladeshi politics having re-assumed their roles of prime minister and opposition minister which they have over the years rotated.
Minus 2 did not happen.
The army-backed government punished what had been the ruling party of that time, the BNP, and put many of their leaders in jail far more than they did with the Awami League. BNP and Jamati partisans claim this is because of a conspiracy, others however say that as the BNP had run the country for half a decade and looted the country for 5 years the military would naturally target those who were in government stealing, rather than those in opposition who were out of office and unable to steal.
There have perhaps been some long-term benefits albeit not as much as most would like.
The new Hasina administration has definitely been more responsible by its standards than in its previous term.
The image of the former prime minister of Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia, in tears and her 2 corrupt sons beaten up is perhaps the most lasting image of this period and was perhaps meant as a clear message to all politicians in Bangladesh from the military, that nobody was untouchable and could ultimately be punished, thus politicians should not engage in corruption, this being the chief problem Bangladeshis had with Tariq Zia and his brother, Cocu.
Tariq Zia, son of the former Bangladeshi prime minister, Khaleda Zia beaten by Bangladeshi security forces.
Now with elections looming again in Bangladesh, and one party Jamat e Islami threatening civil war and rioting many Bangladeshis in a state of concern and unease fear there may yet again be another unofficial military coup 7 years after the last. 2 military coups in a decade, not anything to be proud of for any country striving to be a democracy.
What will happen if there is another military takeover?
@asad71
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