NationStates Jolt Archive

OCC: Thought I'd try something different besides the standard I'm invading this country. No Military Forces of mine will be used in this RP.

IC: For years, the United Netherlands government or as now as it was called, the Iberian Netherlands had been having dealings with the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Building relationships, establishing military contracts, and in general making high level contacts that would one day serve their purpose. That day had come.

With the recent announcement that the President of People's Republic of Bangladesh had died of a heart attack, the country had entered a new turning point, though at the time no one knew this expect for a few who were quietly planning a new future for the country.
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As Prime Minster Khaleda Zia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khaleda_Zia) walked into her office she spotted a familiar figure. Reacting quickly, to the woman sitting at her desk. "What brings you here at such this late hour?"
"Zia, the time has come for you to take your place in history. With the death of the President, we have been given a great opportunity, both for my country and yours."

"I see, what must I do?" "Zia, do nothing except what you have done for the past few years, I will be in further contact. Until, then take care"

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A few days later, Zia got the call she had been dreading. “Hello, how may I help you?” “Zia, all preparations have been made.” With a dread in her voice, Zia answered with the following. “What preparations are those?” “You needn’t concern yourself with the details my friend, all you have to do is announce your assuming the role as both Prime Minister and as President.” “That could start a civil war!”, screamed Zia. “My friend, you have the support of your people and of most of the military, leave the rest up to us. All you have to do is make that announcement and you will see all will be well.”

“What assurances do you have that a civil war won’t be the result.” “My friend, my government will support you and your people.”

{At that the phone line went dead} As Zia, thought about what her friend said, she began to have doubts but she, knew that if she played her cards right. Her people and her country would emerge from this crisis better off, then they had been in centuries.

As Zia prepared to announce to the world and her people her intentions, she put her doubts into the back of the mind. Without risks their could be no rewards.

As she was putting the doubts into the back of her mind, she was also reminiscing over the past few months that had led her to this place she now found herself in. Just then, she was interrupted by one of our assist. Mrs. Prime Minister you on in 5-4-3- and then with her fingers counted down two then 1 then 0 and then suddenly the red light was on and she was live.

"My fellow Citizens, it brings me great pain to announce that my friend and your President has died. Until further notice, I will be assuming the role as both President and as Prime Minister. I ask you my fellow citizens for your support. To continue to prove I have your interests close to my heart, before he had died the President and I had signed a deal with the Netherlands Government." Though the deal really had been all her idea, it couldn't hurt to use the Presidents name.

"The Netherlands government has given our government a generous loan and I plan to share that money with you my people to improve your lives. New schools, roads and Medical Facilities will be built. A Civil engineering Project will also be started. With the help of civilian contractors from the Netherlands, we will build a Flood Control system to prevent our lands from flooding during Heavy Rains and during Tropical Cyclones. This system will consist of gates, flood walls, dikes and dams. It will be based on the Netherlands System of flood control and should save millions of dollars and hundreds of you my fellow citizens lives from the forces of mother nature."

"I have also arranged defense contracts with the various companies in the Netherlands to update our military with new equipment. They are also willing to provide training for our forces. This should ensure, you my fellow citizens, from any attacks from hostile neighbors long into the future."

"Thank you for your time and God Bless all of you."

[ooc: the Emirate would inquire, but instead, I shall ask what is happening now? Is Bangladesh in disarray now?]

[ooc: the Emirate would inquire, but instead, I shall ask what is happening now? Is Bangladesh in disarray now?]

OCC: Well, no- this RP was put on hold until I would have gotten more time. As, of yet I haven't it's been one RP after another. Operation America which is still going, the West African one, then Senegal, now with DP gone another one.

So, this RP is way in the past still. I'll get it active again, I just don't know when. I start from where I left off. A lot of things have changed sense then, so it will be interesting to RP that as time progresses.

I'm not going to be doing much RP with the Division in America, I don't want to get in a major war with Sharina or anyone. Though I have attacked Brinkman, that is because he is refusing to pull out his forces after they have been asked repeatedly to do so. Also, he's attacking into countries from bases in the Republic. The Republic doesn't want to become a target, so it made the decision that if the Brinkman forces want to invaded other nations it can do it from its own bases. Force is being used to expel them. Once he is gone, The republic will stand down it's forces and go back to DEFCON 5 and just sit out the rest of it's life in peace, if Allah permits.

To wordy for a simple question?

The days proceeding her announcement were a difficult time for Zia. How would her people take the message, would they support her, would they consider her a sell out or worse a puppet of the Netherlands Government. Over and over she played these and other possibilities in her head until, even she began to draw blanks. Finally, after 6 days of playing cool word finally began to come in. She had the full support of her people.

A few weeks later, she was officially given the title of as the sole head of the Bangladesh Government. The stage was now set for her, her people and her beloved country to take their rightful place in Southeast Asia. The dominance of India over the region would soon be coming to an end.

For a country having been around for only 35 years, Zia knew it would not be an easy climb to greatness, but with the help of the Netherlands Government and it's vast resources. Her country would achieve greatness it could only dream of.

The future of Bangladesh did indeed look bright.

Keep it coming.:D

(you finish to early and I to late)

Keep it coming.:D

(you finish to early and I to late)

I’m glad you like the Role-play. Well, maybe this time we can switch. I’ll finish to late and you to early. I do plan to at least make this RP 2-3 pages. That’s right at least. I got 10 years to cover and I’m planning on darn well using them. The joys of fluid time, so sit back, grab some popcorn and enjoy the movie. It’s going to be a long. But, at the end- you nor anyone will ask me about Bangladesh. So, what happen to such and such during this time.

And now for your feature presentation.

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SIC: With power now firmly in her hands, Zia made he first move to completely consolidate her power and endear her people to her forever. Many years from now, unknown to Zia she would be known as the greatest leader of Bangladesh. For now, her role was just beginning and she had much work to do.

As her first act as the new leader of Bangladesh, she signed into law “The Civilian Improvement Act”. This law would raise the minimum wage, build new schools, bring gender parity in schooling up to western standards, the building of obstacles to protect the country from frequent cyclones and floods, the funding and building of new Universities of all types and last but, probably the most important-the institution of health care reforms and the improvement and building of new hospitals. To further enhance the capabilities of her people, funds were made available for key students to be able to study from the great universities in Europe and America.

To bring her people up from one of the poorest nation in the world to one more matching western nations, Zia decided to tackle this in a two steep program. First, foreign companies would be encourage to come to her country and second-new factories would be built to tap into the markets of Asia. Why, buy from Europe and America when the countries around her could buy from her country at cheaper prices. Additional, efficiently would be applied to all state owned enterprises, port facilities and energy resources.

Though, these reforms were surely to bring her people to greatness. Zia knew these funds from the Netherlands Government would not come without a price. Zia, began to wonder if she was selling her soul. Putting that thought into the back of her mind, Zia decided she would indeed sell her soul if it brought peace, prosperity and greatness to her people. Their was nothing she wouldn’t do for them and she knew their wasn’t nothing they wouldn’t do for her.

A year after having instituted the reforms, it was time to move on to the next phase of bringing her country the greatness it had sought for so long. As the once great president Theodore Roosevelt of the United States said, “Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick”. It was time for her country to acquire that big stick.

SIC: With two years having passed since the signing of the "The Civilian Improvement Act”. Zia, had watched her country grow and grow until she couldn't image how it could keep expanding and yet it did. Trade was at an all time high with the economy booming like never before. Production of goods was up everywhere, literacy had increased by 10% and was still climbing. Millions of dollars and hundreds of lives had been spared this year from flooding and tropical storms due to the flood control system having just come online. For, the first time in it's history her country was spared the ill effects of the Monsoon season that brought with it floods, tropical cyclones, tornadoes, and tidal bores.

It had now come time for her country to reinvest that money back into itself. While, most of the funds would continue to be directed at improving the civilians plot in life. The time had come to give Bangladesh a more vocal voice in the world and that could only be achieved through military capability. A three step military improvement program was initiated with 50% of allotted resources going to the Army, 35% going to the Air Force and 15% going to the Navy. Part of the program including increasing the number of personnel in the Armed forces through various means. While, conscription would of been the easiest way it was decided instead to keep the Armed Services all voluntary. As the first step to attract the youth of the country to serve and keep them in the service, a 20% pay increase was given to all lower ranks with a 8% increase for officers.

The next step and arguely the most difficult would be acquiring the equipment as Bangladesh had at the moment no home grown arms industries. That, problem would be solved in the third step, but for now the only way to acquiring the arms it needed was to buy it off from the international market.

The influential ascent of the Ganges Delta and the dominance of the Jute.

SIC: Zia, was proud of her country and her people.... Both, had come a long way from the early days of infighting and political corruption that was so common to this area of the world. Only the strong survived and the people of Bangladesh had surely demonstrated their resolve of not only surviving but, of thriving in the area. The time had now come to not merely survive in the area, but to dominate it completely. Zia, had started her country on it’s way to greatness through massive civil projects, but these projects could take her country only so far. What her country needed most was direct access to China and additional land to support it’s considerable population, that was even now still continued to see record growth. It wouldn’t be long before the resources of her country would be put to the breaking point, a point it was already fast approaching. Those two tasks could only be accomplished through war and conquest. Something, neither Zia nor Bangladesh were ready for.

For one, Bangladesh military was highly outdated and two, not exactly up to western standards for training, morale and efficiency. With funds pouring into the coffers of Bangladesh, Zia was now determined to reverse that course and give Bangladesh an offensive capability. Highest on Zia’s priority was upgrading the equipment in use from old Soviet and Chinese designs to more modern Western’s ones. Through it’s contacts with the Iberian Netherlands, Zia was able to gain the rights to produce locally in Bangladesh: The Leclerc Main Battle Tank, the AMX-10RC Reconnaissance Vehicle, the Fennek Scout Car, the Boxer Multi Role Armoured Vehicle (MRAV), the ASCOD Infantry Fighting Vehicle and a few other selective vehicles. For Artillery Support, the Bangladesh military would take over the M109s stocks of the Iberian Netherlands.-which had been replaced by The PzH 2000 (Panzerhaubitze 2000). Though the Navy could be mostly neglected for now, the Air Force could not.

For all intensive purpose’s The Bangladesh Air Force was outdated, underfunded and of general little use. Though this force was sufficient for defending Bangladesh while it was under no immediate threat, it was of little use for gaining and maintaining Air Superiority, Close Air Support and Resupply. The most modern fighter in service was the Mig-29 and then only in limited use with only a total of 8 being in operation. The rest of the Air Fleet being older designs from the 1950's and 1960's. If, Bangladesh wish to project it’s power throughout Southeast Asia, it was going to need much more capable aircraft and equipment. The next generation jet fighter choosen to enter service along with the Mig-29 was to be the Eurofighter Typhoon. Also, joining the reconstituted Air Force would be the Tiger Attack Helicopter, the UH-1Y Huey Utility Helicopter, AS 565 Panther, the EMB-145 Erieye, and the CN235-300 multi-mission tactical aircraft just to name a few. Though the enhancement program would take time, at least a minium of four years. It was a step or should we say lift in the right direction.

As part of the program of reconstituting the armed forces was the building of new training facilities and military bases from large army bases to expanding the Air Force and Navy bases. Though, the military would be getting new attention after decades of neglect. The civilian programs were not to be forgotten and would be continued for the foreseeable future. In fact, the building of new arms factories to employ her people in making weapons for the Bangladesh Armed Forces were just one part of the civilians improvement programs. The Rise of a new Great Power in the region was at hand.

SIC: After years of hard work, not even Zia could believe the progress that had been made. Zia during her term had oversaw a complete transformation of her country from one of the poorest in the region to one of equal standing among the Great Powers in the region and quite possible the world. Yet, even with these great accomplishments there was still much to be done. Zia, often wonder if her job would ever be done, she knew the job would be demanding when she took office, but it had gotten to the point where the job completely consumed her. At the rate this keep going, this job might just well kill her. Before, she even had a chance to collect her thought’s Zia had arrived at her destination. Though, at first it seemed just like any other dedication from the hundreds Zia had done before, this one would be different. There were Great men, there were Great women and there were Great accomplishments, but never before had there been all three at a single point in time.

IC:

As Zia tapped on the microphone to make sure it was working she couldn't help, but be awe struck at the huge crowd that had gather to hear her speak. After nearly 6 years of construction, the final piece in the flood control network was completed. No longer would her people be at the mercy of mother nature. Though the project had taken longer to complete then expected and had exceeded it's original cost estimates many times over, it was finally done. This new flood control system would allow greater food production yet, at the same time during the Monsoon season protect the country from the crippling floods that came every year with it. Looking over her notes one last time, Zia: Prime Minister and head of state of Bangladesh began to speak.

"As I look out upon you I can't help, but feel proud of all what you all have done. Through your hard work you have made Bangladesh a better place not only for yourselves but, for our children. No longer will any of us suffer from the ravages of mother nature. Instead, we have harnessed the power of nature to benefit us all. There is nothing we can't do when we work together. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. And through working together we can conquer our fears and lay them to rest. Together, we stand united for the common good of Bangladesh. I'm proud of every single one of you and you should be proud of yourselves and your fellow brothers and sisters. I hereby dedicate this dam to all those who have worked long and hard to make it a reality for all of us."

At that the entire crowd erupted into applause. It was truly awe inspiring to all those who were there that day. That day would long be remember to all those who were there to witness "The Rise of the Ganges Delta and the dominance of the Jute."

After six years since assuming complete control of the Bangladesh Government and getting "The Civilian Improvement Act” passed into law, Zia had oversaw the greatest growth period in Bangladesh history. Yet, for all that had been accomplished which included seeing the national literacy rate increase 20% during her tenure from 43.1% to 63.1%, the almost tripling of the gross domestic product(GDP) of the country and the amount of population that was below the poverty line decreasing from 45% to 35%. Still, as good as those accomplishments were, Zia knew that to complete on a global scale, more work was still left to be done. When Zia had started her crusade to bring prosperity to Bangladesh, nearly two-thirds of Bangladeshis were employed in the agriculture sector. Now, after six years of hard work and much needed reforms, it was nearly a fifty-fifty split of the percent of the population employed in the agriculture sector and those employed in the industry/service sectors. With a sustained GDP growth rate of 5-6% over the past six years and for the first time, in it’s history Bangladesh was exporting more goods then it imported. All of this lead to more and more funds pouring into the coffers of the Bangladesh Government. As an addition to the “Civilian Improvement Act”, Zia had the majority of these funds reinvested back into the infrastructure of the country. The Rise of the Ganges Delta was surely at hand.

While, the home front got the most attention and access to most of the resources of the country. Zia, hadn’t forgotten about the military front. With most of the military expenditures directed towards the Bangladesh Army and Bangladesh Air force over the last six years, the Bangladesh Navy had except for maintenance costs been largely neglected. Now that the Army and Air Force were strong, it was time to do the same to the Navy. Except, for 5 Island class patrol vessels, 4 Shapa (River) class minesweepers, 1 Dinghai Class fleet tug and 2 Rupsha Class fleet tugs the rest of the Naval ships were either scraped or sold off to other nations. With the majority of the fleet set to be decommissioned, the Navy had the chance to start anew and it was deemed that now was the time to give Bangladesh a Blue-Water capability, a be it a limited one. Replacing the decommissioning ships were 1 Principe de Asturias Aircraft Carrier, 2 Arleigh Burke Class (Aegis) Flight IIA Destroyers, 4 De Zeven Provincien class Destroyers, 8 F100 Alvaro de Bazan Class Frigates, 9 Flyvefisken Class (SF 300) Multi-Role Vessels, 4 Type 214 Class Submarines, 2 Rotterdam Class LPDs, 1 Amsterdam/Patino Class AOR, 1 Segura Class Minehunter, 2 Godetia Class minecraft tenders and 2 Snellius class survey ships. Most of the ships being acquired came from the Iberian Kingdom and it’s allies. However, the nine Flyvefisken Class and four Type 214 submarines had been constructed locally in Bangladesh. While, at the same time the construction of these ships was going on locally. A new shipyard able to build larger vessels such as frigates/destroyers was also under construction. With in three years if all went according to plan, the Bangladesh Navy would have the ability to construct advance warships for it self and have a Blue-water Navy capable of challenging powers like India, China, the Iberian Kingdom should they turn hostile or the Sharina Theocracy. Soon, very soon the power of Bangladesh would be felt around the world. The Rise of the Ganges Delta and the Jute was at hand.

OCC: After much delay again, this is active again. And to start it off with a bang, here is a nice long post.

With ten years having passed since the signing of the Civilian Improvement Act into law, the time had come to put the Act to rest. Though it’s time had come and gone, the CIA had started what would become known as the golden age in Bangladesh. What was once an poor, overpopulated, and inefficiently-governed nation had become in the words of it’s former great leader “a prosperous nation.” In the ten years that the CIA had been operational, Bangladesh had gone from a literacy rate among the entire population of 43.1% to one of 96.7%. The economic well being of the nation as a whole had made leaps and bounds, including seeing the amount of population below the poverty line drop from 45% to 10.5%. What had once been an GDP-per capita of $2,300 was now $32,100 and still growing with every year passing. What made all this growth possible was the transfer of millions of jobs from the agricultural sector to the industry/service sectors. What had been 10 years ago a nation with over 60% of it’s working population tilling the fields now saw a nation with 70% of it’s working population in factory and service jobs. However, for Bangladesh to have undergone such a radical redistribution of it’s people and it’s wealth did not come without a cost. However, most viewed the increase in the number of people unemployed as a small price to pay compared to the sustained growth the nation had gone through.

With the end of the Civilian Improvement Act (CIA), it was soon discovered by Zia and others within the Bangladesh government that new laws were needed to govern and regulate the massive economic and social changes Bangladesh had undergone in the past ten years. If, Bangladesh was to keep growing and stay prosperous, focus would have to be shifted from the agricultural sector to the business sector while at the same time protecting all workers especially those employed in producing Bangladesh’s greatest export, rice. Though many new laws would be passed within the following years to manage the new realities the nation found itself in, none would have the impact as the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) and the National Industrial Act (NRA) would have. With these new laws came new agencies to monitor the compliance of the various laws throughout the nation, thereby creating a demand for more government workers and opening up new job opportunities to countless thousands. The Rise of the Ganges Delta and the Jute had arrived.

While, the civilian sector saw massive growth during the decade long period the Civilian Improvement Act was in effect. The military of Bangladesh had also undergone massive transformations during the reign of the CIA. What was ten years ago a underfunded, poorly trained and poorly equipped force was now after ten years of reform a well funded, highly trained and well equipped force by the standards of Western European nations. The Army had increased in size by nearly three-fold, with more modern equipment now be employed and used. Out of all the branches the Air Force had seen the least change, however that change had been tremendous in giving the Air Force new capabilities and new equipment to fulfill these new capabilities. The Navy was now capable of limited Blue-Water Operations with the pride and joy being the new Principe de Asturias Class Light Aircraft Carrier. While the new carrier was the pride of the Navy, vessels such as Assault Ships, Destroyers and Frigates had not been neglected and now made up the majority of the surface vessels of Bangladesh. Ten years ago, the most powerful ship Bangladesh had at it’s disposal was a single Bangabandhu class light frigate which weighed less then 3,000 tons. The Bangladesh Navy had come a long way as had the entire military structure of Bangladesh. What was once a force of limited combat value almost entirely geared towards the defense of Bangladesh itself, was now a force capable of both offensive and defensive operations both at home and aboard.

To be Continued...

With Bangladesh having finally achieved a sense of stability never known in it’s history, Zia began the unenviable task of incorporating her nation and it’s people into a new world, a flat world. The first step in that process would be for Bangladesh to join the Republic of United Nations [RUN] and thereby a global community made up of nations and peoples from around the world. Through the Republic, Bangladesh would gain access to markets and ideas from not only the many nations of the Republic, but from those of the Republic’s allies and friends. As Zia and others of her staff headed for the city of The Hague in the United Netherlands, where the headquarters of the Republic was located, all on board began to settle in for the long flight ahead. Throughout the cabin many different activities could be witnessed going on. With some onboard sleeping, others working and still others playing games to pass the time. Whether, Zia or anyone else on board for that matter knew it or not they were about to make history. A new beginning for Bangladesh was at hand. The Rise of the Ganges Delta and the Jute was surely now at hand, the people of Bangladesh merely needed to reach out and grab it.

After the long flight and a day to rest and recuperate, Zia at last took her place among the rest of the delegates of the Republic and waited for the discussions to begin. Oddly enough, the first delegate to speak up was from the United Netherlands-the same country that had secretly supported Zia, her government and Bangladesh through it’s business contacts- “Mrs. Zia, my first question for you and one I think the rest of my colleagues gathered here today would agree is the most important. By agreeing to let you join the Republic, what would Bangladesh bring to the table in furtherance of the Republic and it’s ideas on Peace and Liberty?” “Well Sir, that’s not as easy a question to answer as you make it sound. However, I can give you my full assurance that as leader of Bangladesh I would support the ideas and principals of the Republic through whatever means necessary.” “I see, in that case I have no further questions at this time and I’ll give my esteem colleagues gathered here today with me a chance to voice their questions and/or opinions.”

So went the cat and mouse game over the next few days with Zia trying to encourage the member nations of the Republic into accepting her nation into their ranks without unduly committing Bangladesh and it’s people to responsibilities beyond their capabilities, at least for the time being. As it turned out, Zia had nothing to fear but fear itself. However, at the time everything was riding on the outcome of these high level meetings. The future of Bangladesh was at stake and that was no laughing matter. As H-hour approached, all Zia could do was place her worries in the back of her mind and pray she had said and done the right things.

Though Zia was proud of all the work she and her people had accomplished over the past 10 years, during all that time she had never been as worried about an outcome as she was today waiting for the decision that would determine the fate of Bangladesh for the foreseeable future. Would Bangladesh be accepted or denied, only time would tell. Finally, after waiting over an day, a decision had finally been announced. Fate it seems was once again not without an sense of irony. When Zia finally read the news, a look of bewilderment and confusion over took her. Bangladesh’s application to join the Republic had been rejected. Though the Republic had pledged to support Zia and her government, Zia still felt somehow betrayed.

The long flight back to Bangladesh was filled with clouds of tension and mists of gloom. Even weeks after the meeting, Zia and her staff still felt the despair of having been rejected. In time though, Zia, her government and Bangladesh would have the last word. Bangladesh would join the Republic, but under terms Bangladesh would set. In the end, the Rise of the Ganges Delta and the Jute had arrived.