The result for Bangladesh was a fairly peaceful election, with low turnout and minimal participation from minorities. These are the main factors that characterize Bangladesh’s attempt to return to parliamentary democracy.

It remains to be seen whether the Tariq Rahman-led BNP will allow the Awami League to rejoin the national mainstream for the return of a healthy democracy. While New Delhi may take solace from the fact that Jamaat-e-Islami has not seized power, it would do well to realize that the BNP and its governments have a history of being unfriendly towards India.

One of the immediate contentious issues could be the extradition of ousted leader Sheikh Hasina. Angara Venkata Girija Kumar, Chennai Small Screen For decades, Doordarshan (DD) was the sole provider of television in India, playing a vital role in promoting national unity, education and cultural awareness (‘Open Pages’, 8 February).

One can remember families flocking to their television sets to watch ‘Oliyum Oliyum’ (Tamil film song programme) on DD Chennai. Before cable TV in the 1990s, DD served as a good companion. R Shivakumar, Chennai.