ABSTRACT
This chapter describes how the leaders and their parties made it difficult for the political system to grow with democratic norms. It explains democratization process in South Asian countries with a minimalist view of democratic development. The chapter examines the growth of democratic institutions such as legislature in India and Bangladesh. The election to sixth parliament of Bangladesh is a best example of endangering democratic system by the politicians. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the ruling party, unilaterally declared the date of election without the opposition parties' consent. The opposition parties decided to boycott the election if it was not held under a caretaker government. The caretaker government of Justice Habibur Rahman promptly set the date of the election for the seventh parliament on 12 June 1996. With the support of the Jatiya Party (JP) the Awami League (AL) garnered enough support in the parliament to form the government.
