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TWO-THIRD BRUTE MAJORITY GOVT HAVE NOT GONE WELL IN THE SUB-CONTINENT

Bangladesh

History tells us that the ends of the governments with two-third brute majorities have not gone well in the Indian Sub-Continent.  In India, Indira Gandhi’s government once got the two-third majority in Parliament but that resulted in her declaring state of emergency.  Similarly, In Pakistan, Newaj Sharif’s government with a two-third majority in Parliament resulted in sending him in forced exile in Saudi Arabia.  

Bangladesh’s experience is even bitter and more saddened. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s government in the early 1970s got almost all seats in Parliament and Ziaur Rahman’s government in the late 1970s got more than two-third majority. However, they could not hand over power smoothly and peacefully.  They were killed in the most tragic and brutal ways.  

In the 1980s, military dictator Hussain Muhammed Ershad got more than two-third majority in his all voter less elections. None of his Parliaments or Presidential positions could spent the full term.  His dictatorial regime was fallen humiliatingly in the early 1990s due to mass uprising.  Only two regimes in Bangladesh could spend the full term and more or less peacefully handed over power and those governments were Begum Khaleda Zia’s government of early 1990s and Sheikh Hasina’s government of mid-1990s respectively.  

Interestingly, both governments were formed with simple majorities as opposed to the two-third majority. The government of Four-Party Alliance with more than two-third majority was ended with emergency being declared by a military backed unusual/unconstitutional government.  Now the current government of Grand Alliance has more than two-third majority.  

The symptoms of its ending do not appear to be good, smooth and peaceful.  Nobody knows what is going to happen.  Time will only say with certainty.  But the history of the Sub-Continent in general and of Bangladesh in particular does not give us a positive indication or hope.

25713 views 0 comments Political History Bangladesh India Pakistan two-thrid Majority government 

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