Sheikh Hasina: Bangladesh's toothless tiger Dean Nelson (Dean Nelson is the Telegraph Media Group's South Asia editor. He has been based in New Delhi for three years.) Just as things were looking up for Bangladesh, another crisis has plunged the country back into chaos.The revolt by the Bangladesh Rifles, the country's border security force, highlights how fragile its 'progress' is, and how easily the new democratic settlement between the army and political establishment remains. When BDR rebels started shooting their army officers at their Dhaka HQ, the new prime minister Sheikh Hasina capitulated to their demands so quickly that it sent shockwaves around the region. Her apparent weakness raised fears that it might encourage the rebellion to spread. Her desire to nip the revolt in the bud, even if it meant surrender, reveals a country which has lost its confidence.It was not so long ago that Sheikh Hasina swaggered the country, persecuting her political rivals, mostly Khaleda Zia of the BNP, and then, in turn being persecuted by them. Their confidence then was such that they didn't notice the country collapse around them as they fought it out.Then when the army called time on the feud that had come to define Bangladesh, they almost lost everything. Sheikh Hasina has been returned to power by the ballot-box, but she knows she is not the force she once was. The swagger has gone, and perhaps with it the ability to rule. toothless_tiger |
__._,_.___