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Bangladesh incarcerates activists

An alleged anti-government activist looks out of a police van on its way to court in Dhaka yesterday. Police detained thousands of people in the capital in what appeared to be mass roundup of opposition party activists ahead of a two-day countrywide strike called by the opposition. PHOTO: EPA

Police have detained about 1,500 activists ahead of a two-day nationwide general strike aimed at forcing electoral reform and the postponement of a general election this month, a key political alliance said yesterday.

Nevertheless, the alliance still plans to enforce the strike and transport blockade today and Monday, said Obaidul Qader, the spokesman for a 19-party alliance led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"Police have detained at least 1,500 activists alone in the capital, Dhaka, since Thursday," Qader said. "We'll enforce the blockade as per our plan."

The alliance has vowed to boycott and disrupt the election, slated for Jan. 22, saying the interim government in charge of the poll favors the alliance's opponents.

Top police officials were not immediately available to comment to reporters yesterday.

The Daily Star newspaper, however, quoted Dhaka city police chief A.B.M. Bazlur Rahman as saying the clampdown was not related to any particular party or political allegiances, but that police were holding those likely to create trouble and prevent a free and fair election.

"It is part of a continuous pro-cess," Rahman told the newspaper.

Despite the arrests, about 5,000 alliance supporters rallied on Friday night in Dhaka to press their demands.

"We are boycotting the vote because it will not be free and fair," Abdul Jalil, a top Hasina aide, told the protesters. "We shall also not allow the holding of the polls."

The Election Commission has said the polls will go ahead as scheduled, regardless of the alliance boycott.

Hasina's alliance wants the ballot delayed until electoral reforms, including the revision of a voter list, are complete, and President Iajuddin Ahmed has stepped down.

By boycotting the election, the alliance has left the contest largely to a four-party coalition led by Hasina's main rival, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and her Bangladesh National Party.

"We are not bothered by the boycott. We will take part in the polls," Zia told reporters on Friday.

The president of the Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry warned that the boycott would render the elections meaningless, cause more turmoil and hurt the economy.

"Politics will now be more unstable. Our economy will be its worst victim," Mir Nasir Hossain said. "Elections without participation of all political parties will not be meaningful."

The political crisis in Bangladesh, an impoverished nation of 144 million people, has been exacerbated by nationwide strikes and the often violent demonstrations called by Hasina's supporters calling for electoral reform.

At least 34 people have been killed in the protests and clashes between supporters of the rival political alliances since the start of the crisis in October. President Ahmed called in the military to control the crisis in December.
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