Stability illusive in Bangladesh

The recent election in Bangladesh marks a watershed for that unhappy country, plagued as it has been by military rule and civilian misrule for most of its 25-year independent history.

The Awami League party led by Sheikh Hasina Wajed, daughter of the hero of the country's war for independence from Pakistan, is set to take up the reins of power for the first time as a truly democratically-elected government.

The party, which led a hugely disruptive two-year movement for an election under a caretaker regime -- a movement that culminated in just such an election, held peacefully June 12 -- won 146 of 300 seats in the country's legislature, just barely short of a majority.

The formerly ruling Bangladesh National Party (BNP) of Begum Khaleda Zia won only 116 seats, and the Jatiya Party of General H.M. Ershad, who ruled from 1982 to 1990 but is now in prison, won 31 and likely will play an influential role as a coalition partner.

The Awami League, having seized the moral high ground -- not entirely with justification -- while in opposition, now has a responsibility to govern wisely and without indulging in the urge to settle scores that have been all too prevalent a political motive in Bangladesh to date.

The BNP for its part must gracefully accept the results, certified as they were by foreign and domestic observers as remarkably free and fair.

All parties have not only a duty but also an opportunity to forego the formerly usual practice of recrimination and systematic undermining of each other and to establish an important precedent for the peaceful transfer of power.

The experience of its neighbors, especially India, is relevant because, should opposition parties and or the pivotal Jatiya Party -- dubbed by wags the 'queenmaker' -- play politics to undermine what is a clear-enough Awami league mandate to govern, further instability and violence can be predicted.

In India the day of the BJP is at hand, just as in Turkey the day of the Islamist Welfare Party is at hand, try though its secular enemies might to keep it from power.

In Bangladesh the Awami League is a secular party, but its day too is at hand: Sheikh Hasina has been hungering for power for many years now. The present moment is hers: she should be allowed to govern as best she might, in peace.

-- The Bangkok Post