UN General Assembly
2001

democracy in which elections are constitutionally carried out by an interim caretaker government within a 90-day period. The roots of democracy have taken hold and have spread far and wide. Today, despite all of Bangladesh's limitations due to poverty, its people have demonstrated unequivocally that they are a functioning, moderate, modernizing Muslim country. The most recent elections, held on 1 October 2001, had a voter turnout of 75 per cent of an electorate of over 70 million people. What was extraordinary was the unprecedented number of women who freely exercised their right of franchise. In an overwhelming demonstration of support, the people have returned the four-party alliance led by Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia to power, with more than two-thirds majority seats in the Bangladesh Parliament. This is an outstanding endorsement of, and triumph for, democracy. It also imposes a huge burden of responsibility on the Government to measure up to this massive mandate. The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Begum Khaleda Zia, has responded firmly. The new Government is committed to consolidating and developing a sustainable structure of democracy with