Bangladesh Have Hopes For Tarique Rahman, says Taslima Nasrin

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party's huge mandate in the recent elections is more a reflection of the people's determination to keep Islamist radicals out of power than of the party's popularity, said Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin.

She said that having "Pakistan-backed radicals" like Jamaat-e-Islami as the principal opposition party also does not augur well for



democratic and progressive values.

"You see huge crowds at Jamaat rallies. But that hasn't translated to votes.

BNP's remarkable results reflect the Bangladeshi people's determination not to allow Pakistan-backed radicals like Jamaat coming to power. Also, the absence of Awami League made BNP the only viable choice for many voters," Nasrin told Media.