POLITICAL PARTIES MOVEMENTS, ELECTIONS AND DEMOCRACY IN BANGLADESH
– Professor Rounaq Jahan
The party system underwent significant changes in the four decades since the birth of Bangladesh. During the first three years of elected civilian rule (1972-1975) the country moved from a one party dominant to a single party system. During the fifteen years of military rule (1975-1990) we witnessed the emergence of state-sponsored political parties who retained control of government power but allowed multiple political parties to operate in opposition with restrictions on their freedom. After the restoration of electoral democracy in 1991, there was initially (1991-2001) a two-party dominant system which later evolved into two electoral alliances led by the two major parties. Since 2014 we appear to have again moved back to a one party dominant system.
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