aw

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Abdur Rahman BISWAS (since 8 October 1991)
was elected for a five-year term by National Parliament; election
last held 8 October 1991 (next to be held by NA October 1996);
results - Abdur Rahman BISWAS received 52.1% of parliamentary vote
head of government: Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammad Habibur RAHMAN
(since 31 March 1996) was appointed by the president (see note under
Legislative branch entry)
cabinet: Advisory Council was appointed by the president on 3 April
1996

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad): elections last held 15
February 1996 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (330 total, 300 elected and 30 seats reserved for
women) seats by party NA; note - the election was held despite the
fact that it was boycotted by the major opposition parties; Prime
Minister Khaleda ZIAur RAHMAN's party won a landslide victory, but,
under continuing pressure from the opposition, who called for an
annulment of the results, National Parliament passed a bill that
established a caretaker government to oversee new elections on a
date yet to be determined; President BISWAS then dissolved
Parliament and named a caretaker prime minister to replace Prime
Minister ZIAur RAHMAN

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the Chief Justices and other
judges are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP),
Khaleda ZIAur RAHMAN; Awami League (AL), Sheikh Hasina WAJED; Jatiyo
Party (JP), Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD (in jail); Jamaat-E-Islami (JI),
Motiur Rahman NIZAMI; Bangladesh Communist Party (BCP), Saifuddin
Ahmed MANIK; National Awami Party (Muzaffar); Workers Party, Rashid
Khan MENON; Jatiyo Samajtantik Dal (JSD), Serajul ALAM KHAN;
Ganotantri Party, leader NA; Islami Oikya Jote, leader NA; National
Democratic Party (NDP), leader NA; Muslim League, Khan A. SABUR;
Democratic League, Khondakar MUSHTAQUE Ahmed; United People's Party,
Kazi ZAFAR Ahmed

International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCRO,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIH, UNMOT, UNOMIG,
UNPREDEP,