Fundamental choices facing Bangladesh

Fundamental choices facing Bangladesh: Godot does not arrive

NM Harun

The irony in the present-day Bangladesh is that the microscopically small nouveau riche class, which is based on crony capitalism and is also comprador in nature, has the military apparently with it and has virtually seized state power. But this class has not yet succeeded in creating –– and does not have the potential of creating any time soon –– a viable political party or parties of its own. The Awami League, despite its wooing of this treacherous class, still maintains its umbilical links with the petty bourgeoisie and its tactical/periodical alliance with the parties and forces which are or claim to be progressive, left-leaning and leftist; the BNP and the Jatiya Party, both creations of the cantonment, are too weak to protect as well as serve the nouveau riche class. In the vacuum, the military has been lording it over the caricature of a caretaker government that the Fakhruddin government is and trying to create an impression that it is the saviour of the nation........................................