The Asia Foundation

Political tensions and weak governance have long compromised development efforts in Bangladesh. In 2006, corruption and impunity were rampant among senior officials across all political lines. With a milestone December 2008 parliamentary election marking a return to democracy following two years of emergency military rule, a sense of optimism has been restored. We provided the most comprehensive election support of any international organization in Bangladesh, combining financial assistance and hands-on advice and technical support to local partners. We helped execute a massive national program to support the December 2008 parliamentary and January 2009 upazila, or local government, elections. Through a partnership with the Election Working Group (EWG), a thirty-two member civil society coalition, we promoted voter registration which contributed to a landmark national photo-identification electoral roll of eighty million people; produced acclaimed public service announcements on accountability and issues of importance to women and youth for television and radio broadcast; and deployed over one hundred fifty thousand election observers nationwide.