Northern Bangladesh paralysed by protests: US envoy criticises interim govt
DHAKA, Dec 17: Towns and cities in northern Bangladesh came to a halt on Sunday after supporters loyal to a former military strongman enforced a strike to protest a court verdict against him, police said.
The High Court ruling makes his participation in the January 23 polls uncertain, lawyers said.
Chanting slogans including “No Ershad, no polls”, thousands of his supporters marched through the city of Rangpur and other towns, police said.
“They blocked roads and held rallies. The strike is on but so far we don't have any report of violence,” regional police chief Khan Sayeed Hasan said.
In Rangpur, roads were empty except for the strike activists while most offices, schools and colleges were closed, a police official said. Sunday is a working day in Bangladesh.
Ershad has a strong support base in north and northeast Bangladesh.
The military strongman made no comment about the case but Jatiya Party Secretary General Ruhul Amin Hawlader told reporters the case was “politically motivated” and that Ershad would appeal to the Supreme Court.
Lawyers were unsure whether Ershad, seen as a potential kingmaker in next month's election, could take part.
Bangladesh's caretaker government has failed to be neutral ahead of January elections, the US ambassador said on Sunday, echoing criticism of a multi-party alliance that has demanded electoral reforms.
“Unfortunately, the caretaker government has not always conducted itself neutrally, and the nation has suffered as a result,” Ambassador Patricia A. Butenis said at a seminar in Dhaka. “We hope that is behind us now.”
She said the essence of a “caretaker government is impartiality”.
Ms Butenis' comments coincided with concern expressed by the European Union over the deployment of the Bangladesh army.
Iajuddin ordered the army out of barracks on Dec 9 to assist the civilian administration in the volatile run-up to the coming polls, provoking opposition by some of his advisers.
“The recent deployment ... is a matter of serious concern for us,” EU Vice-President Gerard Onesta said in a letter to Mr Iajuddin.
“There is concern that the deployment of armed forces will undermine progress made in the past towards strengthening the democratic institution,” Onesta said.
“We fear that further use of the armed forces on a national level may be inconsistent with Bangladesh's participation in international peace operations.”
Bangladesh provides the largest number of troops to U.N.peace missions around the world.
The south Asian country on Sunday decided to reinforce security at churches for Christmas and countrywide for the New Year celebrations, the home (interior) ministry said.
“Police, elite Rapid Action Battalion force and ansars (para-police) will guard the churches from Dec. 22 to ensure safe conduct of Christmas prayers and other rituals,” the ministry said.
Churches in Bangladesh were targetted by unidentified extremists in the past, and fears of attacks have risen as the mainly Muslim country faces violence ahead of the January vote.
Butenis urged major parties to pursue new talks to narrow their differences.
Hasina's demands include removal of key officials at the Election Commission whom Hasina and her allies accuse of bias towards Khaleda and her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
