Time to decide

Which way? Photo: Chris Windsor

Not one but two important decisions will be made in Bangladesh on December 29. The first decision will be made by the people of Bangladesh, who will elect their new government.
The second decision will be made by that newly elected government. Either it will embrace and consolidate the positive reforms that have been achieved over the last two years or it will fall back in to the bad old ways.
In the run-up to the December polls there is cause for optimism -- and the opinion polls show that Bangladeshis have confidence. The state of emergency has been lifted, giving space for political expression and campaigning. The main parties have published their manifestos. International and local observers, including the UK-funded ANFREL mission, are ready.
The Election Commission and the government have worked hard to create a level electoral playing field and the conditions for free and fair polls. Bangladesh's world-class photo-ID voter list, compiled in a very short time, is a remarkable achievement -- and one in which the people and the parties can have confidence.
The UK, through its Department for International Development, contributed £10 million and is proud to have been associated with a project that has brought in previously marginalised voters.
But elections are just one small step on the path to democratic growth. As the newly elected government moves on from the election, it will face a number of important political, economic, security and environmental hurdles.
The newly elected government will choose whether or not, as it crosses these hurdles, it will continue on the path towards a more constructive and consensual democratic future.
To keep on this path, the new government will need to take an inclusive approach. This means giving credence to the principle of "loyal opposition": working constructively with parties across the political spectrum. Bangladesh cannot afford a return to the divisive, confrontational and violent politics of the past.
Global economic turbulence is being felt ever more deeply. Exporters face increased competition for scarce investment capital. Ordinary Bangladeshis face declining living standards from volatile food and fuel prices and falling demand for exports. These problems should not deflect Bangladesh from continuing to build a stable business climate with a firm political foundation, with transparency and good governance at its heart.
As it continues to work towards the Millennium Development Goals, deepening democracy in this way will also enhance the ability of Bangladesh to make further gains on poverty reduction.
We hope that the newly elected government will recognise the power of the poor's vote, and work to give the poor a fair deal in their country's development, including equal access to jobs and other opportunities.
The recent bombings in Mumbai tragically highlighted the security challenges that the region continues to face. Like with the economy, some argue that improving security means pushing democracy to the back.
In fact, security will improve only if the newly elected government demonstrates that it can provide adequate outlets and solutions for the kinds of grievances that lead the disillusioned to turn to terrorism.
Some may question why a British Minister has any business in expressing this desire to see sustainable democracy established in Bangladesh after the forthcoming elections. Put simply, our relations with Bangladesh are best served by a stable democracy.
A stable democracy will work better with us to address the global problems that affect us all, from economic turbulence to climate change, and from migration to conflict.
But, ultimately, Bangladesh's choices are out of our hands. It is the two decisions to be made on December 29, by the people of Bangladesh and by its newly elected government, that will be so important in securing Bangladesh's future.

Lord Malloch Brown is UK Minister for Asia, Africa and the UN. He visited Bangladesh recently.