All-Party Interim Govt Installed To Oversee Bangladesh Elections Monday Nov 18,2013

Bangladesh on Monday Nov 18,2013 installed an “all-party” interim government headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to oversee upcoming elections despite boycott by the main opposition BNP which termed the move as “farce”, heightening tension in the country

Six ministers and two state ministers took oath to join an election-time Cabinet. President Abdul Hamid administered the oath at the presidential palace

All the new ministers are from the constituents of the Awami League—led grand alliance

The new ministers are: Amir Hossain Amu and Tofail Ahmed (Awami League), Rashed Khan Menon (Workers Party), and Anisul Islam Mahmud, Ruhul Amin Hawlader and Rawshan Ershad (Jatiya Party).

The state ministers are: Mujibul Haque Chunnu and Salma Islam (Jatiya Party)

The main Opposition Party,Bangladesh Nationalist Party(BNP) and its 18—party alliance have repeatedly rejected Hasina’s call to join the all-party government, saying elections would not be credible under her leadership. The BNP termed the all-party cabinet as “farce“

BNP's acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in a statement yesterday said, "It's just another farce of the grand alliance government" while the party's joint secretary general said "the all-party government is just another version of the grand alliance government".

The opposition have long been demanding restoration of a non—party caretaker Govt

The formation of an all party government headed by Hasina has pitted the ruling Awami League against the BNP, raising fear of violence ahead of the election to be held by Janaury 25,2014

Jatiyo Sangshad(Bangladesh Parliament)

 

Jatiyo Sangshad, often referred simply as the Sangshad or JS; and also known as House of the Nation; is the supreme legislative body of Bangladesh 

 

The current parliament of Bangladesh contains 350 seats, including 50 seats reserved for women, which are apportioned on elected party position in the parliament 

    

Political groups

     Government(263)

•      Bangladesh Awami League (230)
•      Jatiya Party (27)
•      Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal (3)
•      Workers Party of Bangladesh (2)
•      Liberal Democratic Party (1)

Opposition Parties(37)

•      Bangladesh Nationalist Party (30)
•      Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islam(2)
•      Bangladesh Jatiya Party (1)
•      Independents (4)

Members are elected for a term of 5 years by direct polls in their respective constituencies. Whoever wins the most votes, regardless of turnout or proportion, wins the election. 

2008 Bangladeshi General Election Dec 29,2008

The Ninth National Parliamentary Elections 2008 were held in Bangladesh on Dec 29,2008

The two main parties in the election were -

Bangladesh Nationalist Party(BNP) led by Khaleda Zia and 

 

Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina 

 

The Awami League formed a fourteen-party grand alliance including Ershad's Jatiya Party  

BNP formed a four-party alliance which included the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islam 

The election resulted in a landslide victory for the Awami League-led grand alliance,which bagged 263 seats out 300. The BNP 4-party alliance received only 32 seats, with the remaining four going to independent candidates.