Media Reaction: U.K. Elections; Dhaka

UNCLAS DHAKA 002185 SIPDIS FOR I/FW, B/G, IIP/G/NEA-SA, B/VOA/N (BANGLA SERVICE) STATE FOR SA/PAB, SA/PPD (LSCENSNY, SSTRYKER),SA/RA, INR/R/MR, AND PASS TO USAID FOR ANE/ASIA/SA/B (WJOHNSON) CINCPAC FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR, J51 (MAJ TURNER),J45 (MAJ NICHOLLS) USARPAC FOR APOP-IM (MAJ HEDRICK) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR OIIP OPRC KPAO PREL ETRD PTER ASEC BG OCII BGD SUBJECT: Media Reaction: U.K. Elections; Dhaka Summary: Conservative "Ittefaq" says that Bangladesh's fragile democracy has many things to learn from the British election. -------------- U.K. Elections -------------- "Results of U.S. elections" Conservative Bangla language newspaper "Ittefaq" editorially comments (5/9): Blair has spoken about leaving his post before the next election. The Conservative leader Howard has also pledged to give up his post. We have many things to learn from elections in Britain. Conservative leader Howard is voluntarily giving up the party leadership for his party's failure in elections. Blair also said that he would leave the post in spite of leading his party in three successive election wins. Nobody raised allegations of rigging. It is remarkable that the Conservative leader has congratulated the leader of the winning party. The British parliament is considered the mother of all parliaments. Therefore, our fragile democracy has many things to learn from the British election. Thomas