Bangladesh opposition to resume blockade
Nov 20, 2006 - 4:29:49 AM
, Reviewed by: Priya Saxena
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She postponed the blockade programme considering public misery and requests from the business community. Besides, the caretaker government had initiated dialogue with major political parties to work out an acceptable solution, but it failed.
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By Xinhua,
[RxPG] Dhaka, Nov 19 (Xinhua) As Bangladeshi President Iajuddin Ahmed's interim government failed to make any breakthrough in resolving disputes over the Election Commission, former main opposition Awami League (AL)-led 14-party combine will resume the nationwide non-stop blockade from Monday.
AL chief Sheikh Hasina on Sunday evening had lengthy discussion with the president over her 11-point demand that envisages recasting the Election Commission with the removal of incumbent Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice Aziz.
Hasina alleged that Aziz was biased towards former prime minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led four-party alliance and apprehended general elections slated for January would not be free and impartial under his authority.
She had set the Nov 19 deadline for the caretaker government to prove its neutrality and meet her demands.
President Ahmed who took over the additional charge of chief advisor of the caretaker government could not reach any consensus with Hasina on her demand for removal of Aziz, because, according to the Bangladeshi constitution, the CEC cannot be dislodged without any specific allegation to be proved by the Supreme Judicial Council.
To make a rapprochement, the president agreed to appoint two more election commissioners in reforming the four-member Election Commission. But Hasina and her alliance dismissed the proposal, saying that no solution was acceptable keeping Aziz as the CEC.
Zia met the president Saturday night and requested him not to act beyond the ambit of the constitution.
Earlier, Hasina's 14-party alliance had enforced the road-railway and waterway blockade for four consecutive days since Nov 12 when one protester was killed and many injured in police actions in the capital.
She postponed the blockade programme considering public misery and requests from the business community. Besides, the caretaker government had initiated dialogue with major political parties to work out an acceptable solution, but it failed.
In a counter move, Zia's four-party alliance also decided to remain on the streets from Monday to resist the 'chaos and anarchy' of the AL-led alliance.
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