LegiStorm

Summary:

Bangladesh (the former East Pakistan) is a Muslim-majority nation in South Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, dominated by low-lying riparian zones. It is the world's eighth most populous country, with approximately 160 million people housed in a land mass about the size of Iowa. It is a poor nation and suffers from high levels of corruption and a faltering democratic system that has been subject to an array of pressures in recent years. These pressures include a combination of political violence, corruption, weak governance, poverty, demographic and environmental stress, and Islamist militancy. The United States has long-standing supportive relations with Bangladesh and views Bangladesh as a moderate voice in the Islamic world. The U.S. government and Members of Congress have focused on issues related to economic development, humanitarian concerns, labor rights, human rights, good governance, and counterterrorism among other issues as part of the United States' bilateral relationship with Bangladesh. The Awami League (AL) and the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) dominate Bangladeshi politics. When in opposition, both parties have sought to regain control of the government through demonstrations, labor strikes, and transport blockades. Such mass protests are known as hartals in South Asia. The current AL government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was reelected in January 2014 with an overwhelming majority in parliament. Hasina has been in office since 2009. The BNP, led by Khaleda Zia, boycotted the 2014 election. The AL has moved forward with a war crimes tribunal to prosecute atrocities from the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. Street protests and political instability continued in 2015 as the BNP has called for new elections and a return to the system of caretaker government in the lead up to elections. There is little optimism among observers that the AL and the BNP will find a compromise for their political differences. Speculation continues that, should the situation deteriorate further, the army could intervene to break the political impasse. Some analysts are concerned that the influence of Islamist extremists could increase and further destabilize the country. These concerns are heightened by the ongoing political crisis as some observers fear this turmoil may create opportunities for Islamists by diminishing the government's ability to monitor and combat militants. Islamist militants have been vigorously pursued by Bangladesh authorities reportedly with success. Despite this, reports indicate that some groups continue to be able to regroup after successful government operations against them. There are also reports that may indicate increasing transnational linkages with terrorist groups outside of Bangladesh. Demographic pressure and environmental problems, which experts believe are likely exacerbated by climate change, increasingly are problems for Bangladesh. A growing population of high density, when combined with limited economic resilience and constraints on the extent to which agricultural output can be expanded, could prove to adversely affect human security in Bangladesh in the years ahead. This could further contribute to political instability in the future. Human rights abuses, refugees, and poor labor conditions in Bangladesh also remain of concern to the U.S. government. Extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, weak judicial capacity, pervasive official corruption and politically motivated violence reportedly continue in Bangladesh. There are also reports of attacks against religious and ethnic minority groups. Increasing numbers of Rohingya refugees from Burma, as well as Bangladeshis, have taken to the sea to flee persecution in Burma and seek a better life beyond Bangladesh. Much international attention is also focused on working conditions in Bangladesh as a result of the 2013 Rana Plaza Factory collapse in which over 1,000 people died. Bangladesh plays a significant role in textile industry global supply chains.