Question

Explain any two commonalities and two differences between Bangladesh and Pakistan in their democratic experiences.

Hint:

Both nations faced military rule and weak democracy. Bangladesh arose from a people movement in 1971 and restored democracy in 1991, while Pakistan saw repeated army rule.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understand the question:
Bangladesh was East Pakistan until 1971. Both countries share a past, but their democratic experience has differed.
The question carries 6 marks, so we write two commonalities and two differences.

Step 2: Commonality 1: Military rule:
Both countries lived under military rulers. In Pakistan, army rulers such as Ayub Khan, Zia-ul-Haq and Musharraf came to power. In Bangladesh, army rule followed the killing of Mujibur Rahman in 1975 and Ershad ruled in the 1980s.

Step 3: Commonality 2: Weak and interrupted democracy:
Both nations had elected governments broken by coups. Political parties and institutions stayed weak, and popular movements had to fight for the return of democracy.
In each country, elites and the military had a strong say in politics.

Step 4: Difference 1: Origin and base of democracy:
Bangladesh came up in 1971 through a mass movement for language, culture and democracy against West Pakistan, so democratic values were strong in its base.
Pakistan was formed in 1947 and its army, with religious groups, kept a large role in politics.

Step 5: Difference 2: Return to democracy:
Bangladesh went back to multi-party democracy after elections in 1991, and parties like the Awami League and the BNP alternate in power.
Pakistan has swung between civilian and army rule, and the army has kept strong influence even when elected governments ruled.

Final Answer:
Commonalities: both faced military rule and interrupted democracy. Differences: Bangladesh was born from a people movement for democracy and has had multi-party democracy since 1991, whereas Pakistan has seen repeated army dominance.