Political violence broke out in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka and
outside ahead of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia handing over of power
to a caretaker government that would oversee the next general
elections in January.
Police said unknown people burnt down cars and houses of former
State Ministers Redwan Ahmed MP and Alamgir Kabir MP and former
Speaker Sheikh Razzak Ali who deserted ruling BNP and joined the
Liberal Democratic Party launched Thursday.
A party office of ruling BNP was burnt in old Dhaka where police
and opposition supporters clashed with each other Thursday
evening.
The violence erupted as the government rejected the opposition's
demand for appointing a neutral person for the office of the Chief
Advisor of non-party caretaker government.
Although former Chief Justice KM Hasan is to take the charge of
caretaker government in accordance with the Bangladesh
Constitution, but the mainstream opposition led by Awami League
president Sheikh Hasina alleged that elections under Justice
Hasanas Chief Advisor cannot be free and fair since he is a BNP
loyalist.
The Awami League-led 14-party combine Thursday announced
countrywide siege as soon as Justice Hasan will take over the
charge of caretaker government. They would hold a grand rally in
the capital on Oct. 28, the possible date for Justice Hasan's
takeover.
Awami League general secretary Abdul Jalil Thursday urged
Justice Hasan not to become the Chief Advisor to push the nation
towards uncertainty.
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia will address the nation Friday on
completion of her government's five-year tenure. National
parliament will also stand dissolved Friday making way for the
non-party caretaker government to assume its office.
(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2006)
