For more than two decades Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League (AL) and Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have ruled Bangladesh. They hate each other viscerally and refuse to communicate, much less negotiate. Both women inherited their political followings from relatives who were assassinated. They have turned the country’s two largest parties into patronage-based personality cults that specialise in looking backwards.

Bangladesh is the world’s eighth most populous country. It has made tremendous progress in recent years despite its appalling leaders. Their greatest feat might have been when they joined hands in 1990 to oust dictator Mohammad Ershad. Ever since, the two “begums" have given Bangladeshis no choice but the choice between the two of them.