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Saturday, Jan 13, 2007
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Economist heads Bangladesh government

Haroon Habib

New council of advisers to be appointed; fresh poll date will be announced later

— PHOTO: AFP

LIFE IN DHAKA: A day after Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed stepped down as head of government and declared a state of emergency, troops were out on the streets of Dhaka, on Friday. But that did not affect normal life.

DHAKA: An acclaimed economist, Fakhruddin Ahmed, 66, was on Friday sworn in the new head of the non-party caretaker government in Bangladesh, where the political situation is volatile. He is the former Governor of the Bangladesh Bank.

President Iajuddin Ahmed, who on Thursday declared a state of emergency amid political unrest and resigned as the chief of the caretaker government, conducted the swearing-in ceremony at the President's palace Bangabhaban here.

As nine of Mr. Iajuddin Ahmed's 10-member council of advisers resigned en masse, the new chief adviser will appoint his team and hold the national elections, the date for which will be announced later.

The swearing-in was attended by all top leaders of the grand alliance led by Sheikh Hasina, but the former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and her party and alliance leaders abstained.

The reverse scenario was witnessed when President Iajuddin Ahmed was sworn in on October 29 last to take the additional responsibility of caretaker government.

In the changed situation, the chiefs of the National Security Intelligence and President's Guards Regiment, loyal to the Khaleda Zia Government, have been removed. There are unconfirmed reports of arrests and confinement of some key leaders from both political camps.

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