Electoral Corruption in Bangladesh Routledge Revivals Series

This title was first published in 2001. Rigging elections in favour of those in power has become a common practice in Bangladesh. Muhammad Yeahia Akhter focuses on the significance of elections in this ostensibly democratic state and portrays how electoral corruption has damaged the process of democratic consolidation. The author reveals the failure of both civilian and military governments to obtain democratic legitimacy and/or credibility through free and fair elections. The study examines the relatively democratic, but largely non-transparent nature of electioneering under non-partisan caretaker governments. The study provides a source of understanding of fair electoral process for the politicians and electoral officials in Bangladesh and other democratizing polities. It provides valuable information to the policy makers and practitioners in order to reform the electoral process in Bangladesh and in other similar countries.

Contents: Elections and electoral corruption: an introduction; Political change and developments in Bangladesh; Problems of democratization before independence (1947-1970); Military rule, elections and civilianization; Electoral politics and corruption under civilian rule; Caretaker governments and the myth of free elections; Conclusion; Appendices; Bibliography; Index.

Muhammad Yeahia Akhter, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh