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Protests continue in Bangladesh

Haroon Habib

Offices of the ruling BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami come under attack

DHAKA: Protests against the outgoing Bangladesh Nationalist Party Government led by Khaleda Zia continued throughout the country on Sunday even as President Iajuddin Ahmed named himself head of a non-party caretaker Government to conduct the next general election.

While Dhaka was relatively quiet, reports pouring in from the rural parts indicated clashes between activists of the outgoing Government and the Opposition.

In Noakhali, five persons were killed on Sunday. Reports of violence were received from almost all major cities and towns, including Rajshahi, Sylhet, Chittagong, Khulna, Jessore, Barisal, Mymensingh, Faridpur, Bogra and Comilla.

In many places, offices of the ruling BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami came under attack, while the BNP and Jamaat cadres attacked Opposition workers in many places.

The Dhaka siege programme by the Opposition combine from Saturday virtually paralysed the capital for the second day. The blockade is likely to continue and may worsen the political scenario.

However, the streets of Dhaka were mostly under the control of the Rapid Action Battalion police and the Bangladesh Rifles.

The port city of Chittagong was badly affected as the Opposition enforced indefinite barricades. Only a few vehicles plied, and loading and unloading at Chittagong and Mongla were limited.

Road communication between Dhaka and other areas also remained snapped since Saturday. Shops and business establishments were closed. Commercial establishments and most of the markets in Dhaka and elsewhere were closed. Mills and factories almost throughout the country remained closed.

Except the partners of outgoing ruling parties, Begum Zia and other Ministers, officials and some foreign diplomats, none from major Opposition parties participated in the dramatic swearing-in of Dr. Ahmed. Gen. Ershad was perhaps the lone leader from the so-called Opposition to witness the brief ceremony.

Dr. Ahmed was elected titular head of the republic by the outgoing ruling coalition after Prof. Badrudouzza Chowdhury, founding secretary-general of the BNP, was unceremoniously removed.

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