In Bangladesh, More Tensions Expected After National Elections

Bangladesh, the world's second-largest exporter of ready-made garments, has weathered several weeks of turmoil as the country's main political opposition has attempted to derail national elections planned by the ruling Awami League government for Jan. 5. Though the opposition has generated unrest in the streets — including labor strikes, protests, street clashes and crippling blockades of domestic transport infrastructure — it has neither derailed the election process nor forced the military to serve as arbiter of the vote. The Awami League's main challenge is shifting from deciding whether or how to hold elections to managing perceptions after the polls, as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party — unable to stall elections — will focus on discrediting the vote and redoubling efforts at fomenting enough unrest to force the army to intervene.