Md. Bayezid Alam

The Role of Western Diplomat's in Bangladesh Politics: a Study on 1/11 and Its Aftermath Md. Bayezid Alam

The 1/11 changeover of 2007 resulting in formation of military backed Caretaker Government (CTG) emerged as the most hotly debated issue in Bangladesh politics. Late 2006, Bangladesh experienced an unprecedented turmoil and brutality done by the opposition party in the wake of the power transfer and the political situation over 9th parliamentary election turned so chaotic that it called for such stern action. On 11 January 2007, The President of Bangladesh declared a state of emergency and postponed general elections scheduled to be held on 22 January 2007, under pressure from the military and Western diplomats ? an event known in Bangladesh as 1/11 ? bringing to an end of fifteen years of formal democratic rule. The military installed a CTG which conducted elections on 29 December 2008 after two years of emergency. The experience of the 1/11 changeover was not good for the countrymen as they suffered from severe torture and repression during this time. The book argues that the Western diplomats played a proactive role bringing 1/11 changeover, which was one of the exceptional military diplomatic coups of the history. It also looked into the fragile democracy of Bangladesh.