Reuters: Bangladesh president quits as caretaker chief -agency

[Eugene]

Bangladesh president quits as caretaker chief -agency
11 Jan 2007 17:14:54 GMT
Source: Reuters

DHAKA, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed has resigned as head
of the caretaker government in charge of holding parliamentary elections on Jan. 22,
the official BSS news agency said late on Thursday.

It said Ahmed appointed his senior adviser Fazlul Haque as acting chief of the
caretaker authority, BSS said.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP238490.htm

From Agence France Press...

Bangladesh president declares state of emergency


by Shafiq Alam and Helen Rowe

20 minutes ago

DHAKA (AFP) - Bangladesh's president declared a state of emergency and imposed a night
time curfew, state television announced, amid escalating tension ahead of disputed
elections on January 22.

The nationwide clampdown came after opposition parties, led by the Awami League, promised
a series of non-stop protests, blockades and strikes aimed at crippling the country and
forcing the interim government to postpone the polls.

The Awami League and its allies are boycotting the elections, alleging the polls have been
rigged in favour of the outgoing Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

-snip-

The announcement also came after the United Nations suspended "all technical support to the
electoral process" and warned it was "concerned" for the future of the country's democracy.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070111/wl_afp/bangladeshemergency_070111171722

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Damn right we need to be 'concerned' for the democracy

Ataur Rahman, professor of political science at Dhaka University, said the constitution allowed a state of emergency to remain in place for at least 120 days, but added the president can extend it indefinitely.

"All the fundamental rights of the citizens including the right to assembly, freedom of speech are suspended during state of emergency. Political parties cannot hold any meeting, protests or processions," he said.

Not much of an election when parties can't campaign.