Camp rules

In political terms,the military's biggest failure in the many months it has held sway over the country has been its inability to smash the power of the AL and BNP eforts to force Hasina and Zia into the type of exile imposed upon Pakistan's late former Prime Minister,Benazir Bhutto,proved abortive.(Hasina,However was released to much acclaim on parole on June II to seek medical treatment in the U.S.)Also unsuccessful have been attempted to lure away party stalwarts.Given the aura of their pedigreed leaders,the two parties still command a vast following among Bangladesh's population-a combined 80% by most estimates-and the length of two begums' detention has drawn the ire of millions.As elsewhere in impoverished South Asia,populist dynasties hold strong.Hasina had her shortcomings,but she is a legendary figure.As the caretaker government seeks to cleanse the country's politics,many in Dhaka worry about the ensuing assault on democratic rights.By some accounts,a total of 440,000 people have been rounded up under the emergency,with less than a quarter still detained.Journalists formally complained a month ago of clampdown on press freedoms:some TV talk shows have been suspended,while more than a few editors are practicing self-censorship after receiving communiques from military intelligence.Everywhere you look there are wathcman outside your door.An outspoken human-rights group.Just open your mouth and you're liable to be jailed.In recent raids across the country over the pass few weeks,the govenment has arrested around 25000 people,including many local party activists,on vague grounds of curbing criminal activity.An Amensty report released last month condemned the 'severely restricted' state of human rights in Bangladesh,citing,among other cases,the torture of journalists by state security forces.Growing frustrations with the military come as Bangladesh is reeling from a colossal crisis in food security.The price of rice has soared 60-80%,a riser that spells hunger for millions.This in not even a question of choice for the poor.It's a global problem,but Moeen knows all too well that in this case,as he says,bread it as important as freedom.The caretaker government has frantically tried to address the crisis,draining waterlogged lands for cultivation and growing alternate crops like potatoes in between harvests.But little can be done to avert the fact that,over the past three years,raising inflation has led to an additional 8.5% of the country's household's falling below the proverty line(nearly half are already there).Uncertainly over the caretaker government's future has also led to a dip in foreign investment compared to previous years,accroding to a recent study published by the center for policy dialogue,a Dhaka-based think tank.