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The worsening crisis

Khaleda Zia appears to be intent on pushing Bangladesh deeper into a crisis. President Iajuddin Ahmed, who has also taken on the role of the executive by appointing himself the chief advisor to the caretaker government, has played his part in provoking the rapidly escalating confrontation with the Awami League-led 14 party alliance. However, it is well known that Mr. Ahmed merely follows instructions issued by the Bangladesh National Party leader and former Prime Minister. The 14-party combine displayed remarkable restraint and postponed twice the launch of an agitation to press its demands. Mr. Ahmed and the ruling clique appear to be in no mood to even consider these demands, although most of them are eminently reasonable. The Awami League and its allies have a strong argument to back up their call for changes in the election commission. Its head, M.A. Aziz, in a blatant display of partisanship, continues to defy a judicial order that the electoral rolls be corrected and revised. The League-led combine alleges that nearly 14 million names have been fraudulently added to the voter list. It has also called for the cancellation of orders appointing nearly 300 cadres of the BNP and its ally, the Jammate Islami, as election officials at the upazilla level; the revocation of changes in the administrative and police departments made after July 1, 2006; the withdrawal of false cases filed after October 1, 2006; and the arrest of militants and confiscation of their weapons.

With the caretaker administration refusing to make any concession, the Awami League-led alliance would appear to have been left with no choice but to take to the streets. Its success in blocking all movement on the roads, rail, and waterways throughout the country suggests that it enjoys wide public support. The BNP does seem to have read the mood of the people of Bangladesh since it has backed off from plans to directly confront the supporters of the League-led combine. With cadres deserting her at a steady rate, Begum Khaleda appears to have realised that her party cannot take on its opponents in the streets. That gives her all the more incentive to misuse the official machinery. The caretaker government did indicate its intent to use the army to end the blockade. Fortunately, better sense appears to have prevailed and the necessary orders have not been issued until now. As part of the effort to discredit those who are pressing for free and fair elections, extremist outfits that have links with the BNP might resort to indiscriminate violence. Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina needs to ensure that her followers exercise the utmost restraint.

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