Bangladeshi general election, 2008

General elections are scheduled to be held in Bangladesh on 18 December 2008. [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/6503151.html] They were originally scheduled for 21 January 2007, but postponed by two days due to demands by the opposition made in December 2006. [ [http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=7950 "Election date postponed by two days"] , Asianews.it, December 7, 2006.] They were put back by one day to 22 January, [ [http://www.dailyindia.com/show/99409.php/India-calls-for-free-and-fair-Bangladesh-election "India calls for free and fair Bangladesh election"] , DailyIndia.com, 2007-01-03 and subsequently postponed for an extended period due to opposition protests and boycott threats.

Riots erupted in October 2006 as the government of outgoing Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and her Bangladesh National Party was to turn over power to a caretaker government of MK Hasan. At least three people died as thousands of demonstrators gathered on the streets in numerous towns; the opposition objected to Hasan because it felt he was too close to the BNP. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6093300.stm "Bangladesh power shift postponed"] , BBC News, 27 October 2006.] President Iajuddin Ahmed became head of the caretaker government instead, but he was also opposed by Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina and her allies, who accused him of favoring Zia. On January 3, 2007, Hasina announced that the Awami League and its allies would boycott the election, [ [http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2007-01-03T074342Z_01_DHA151420_RTRUKOC_0_US-BANGLADESH-ELECTION.xml&WTmodLoc=IntNewsHome_C2_worldNews-2 "Hasina-led alliance to boycott Bangladesh elections"] , Reuters, January 3, 2007.] but the Election Commission stated that the election would be held regardless of the boycott. [Farid Hossain, [http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2007/01/04/ap3297386.html "Bangladesh to Hold National Elections"] , Associated Press (Forbes.com), 2007-01-04.]

From January 4, 2007 until January 7, 2007 public protests were held to reach electoral reform; these protests brought the capital, Dhaka, to a standstill, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6238201.stm "Violent clashes at Dhaka protest"] , BBC News, 2007-01-07.] and led to a state of emergency being declared on January 11, 2007 by Ahmed, who stepped down as chief advisor a few hours later. He also said that the elections would be delayed, and that Fazlul Haque would become acting chief adviser until Ahmed appointed a new chief adviser within a few days. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6252397.stm "Bangladesh poll delay emergency"] , BBC News, January 11, 2007.] [Shakhawat Liton, [http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/01/12/d7011201011.htm "Emergency declared; Iajuddin quits as chief adviser"] , "The Daily Star", January 12, 2007.] Later on the same day, Fakhruddin Ahmed was appointed as the new chief adviser. [ [http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-01-12-bangladesh_x.htm "Bangladesh president appoints head of a new caretaker government"] , Associated Press ("USA Today"), January 12, 2007.]

Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus subsequently announced the foundation of a new party called Citizens' Power. [ [http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7006502326 "Bangladesh Nobel Laureate Announces His Political Party's Name"] , "AHN", February 18, 2007.] He has since rejected entering politics, claiming a lack of support.

On April 5, the county's chief election official declared that the elections would need to be pushed back at least eighteen months. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6529517.stm "No B'desh polls 'for 18 months'"] , "BBC", April 5, 2007.] Subsequently on April 12 Fakhruddin Ahmed, the Chief Advisor, announced in a televised speech to the nation that the next parliamentary elections would be held before the expiry of the year 2008. [ [http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7007035048 "Chief Advisor Says Election In Bangladesh To Be Held Before End Of 2008"] , "AHN", April 13, 2007.] On July 15, 2007 the Election Commission of Bangladesh published a roadmap for the election, promising a compilation of voter lists by October 2008 and an official election call before the end of that year. [Shakhawat Liton, [http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/07/16/d7071601011.htm "Voter list by Oct '08, poll by Dec"] , "The Daily Star", July 16, 2007.]

After the election, the parliament will have to elect the next President of Bangladesh; this should have taken place by 5 September 2007, when Iajuddin Ahmed's term expired, but was postponed due to the lack of an elected parliament. [Mark Dummet, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6979350.stm "Bangladesh president to continue"] , BBC News, September 5, 2007.]

On September 9, 2007 Fakhruddin Ahmed addressed the nation and recalled indoor politics with strict conditions to facilitate preparation for the election and reaffirmed his commitment to hold the election on time or earlier. [ [http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=3437 Ban on indoor politics relaxed] , "The Daily Star", 2008-09-10]

In early October, the Chief Electoral Commissioner stated elections could be held by October 2008, if the electoral roll could be compiled by July 2008. [ [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/6279766.html Bangladesh's elections may be held before October 2008 - People's Daily Online ] ] It was announced on 18 February 2008 that for the first time in the history of Bangladesh, prisoners will also be allowed to vote. [ [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/6355487.html Poll booths to be set up in jails in major cities of Bangladesh - People's Daily Online ] ]

Talks with two smaller parties started on 22 May 2008, and the interim government stated it would hold talks with all parties in short time. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7414519.stm BBC NEWS | South Asia | Bangladesh election talks begin ] ] However, both the Awami League and the BNP declined to attend these talks as long as their leaders were still detained. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7423353.stm BBC NEWS | South Asia | Bangladesh parties decline talks ] ] Voters lists were announced to be ready on 22 July 2008. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7519619.stm BBC NEWS | South Asia | Bangladesh voters' lists 'ready' ] ]

On 4 August 2008, local elections were held in a few places; they were decisively won by the Awami League. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7542317.stm BBC NEWS | South Asia | Awami League wins B'desh election ] ]

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