Bangladesh caretaker chief-designate ill
DHAKA, (Reuters)
Fresh uncertainty shrouded Bangladesh's turbulent political scene on
Saturday after a presidential spokesman said the man chosen to act as
interim head of government was too ill to take the oath of office.
Former Supreme Court chief justice K.M. Hasan was to have been sworn
in as caretaker leader on Saturday, taking over from Prime Minister
Begum Khaleda Zia, whose five-year mandate ended on Friday. A general
election is due in January.
The stage had been set for Hasan to step in despite vociferous
opposition charges that he was biased in favour of the government and
thus unsuitable to organise the elections.
But a presidential spokesman said late on Friday that Hasan was ill
and unable to take the oath on Saturday. "A time for the swearing-in
ceremony has yet to be set ... but we are ready," said the spokesman. He
did not explain the nature of Hasan's illness.
A 14-party opposition alliance led by former prime minister Sheikh
Hasina strongly opposes Khaleda's plan to install Hasan as interim
administrator, citing his past association with the ruling Bangladesh
Nationalist Party (BNP). The alliance vowed to paralyse the country from
Saturday if the government went ahead with the plan, and urged President
Iajuddin Ahmed not to swear Hasan in to avert a worse political crisis.
The opposition also called on Hasan to refuse the post.
"We hope K.M. Hasan will be able to assess the gravity of the
situation" and turn down the caretaker job, said Tofayel Ahmed, one of
the leaders of Hasina's Awami League.
Hasan's sudden illness, which newspapers on Saturday said could
indicate his unwillingness to accept the job, has added to the political
uncertainty.
Opposition leaders said they would not ease pressure until the
"caretaker drama" was over.
"Everything is still fluid ... though we are hoping that Hasan will
be dropped showing respect for the people's demand," Awami general
secretary Abdul Jalil said on Saturday.
Street battles broke out between rival political activists on Friday
evening after Prime Minister Khaleda finished her farewell address on
state television, when she called for peace once she steps down on
Saturday.
Protesters blocked highways, burned vehicles, attacked offices of the
BNP and the homes of some ministers on Friday, police and witnesses
said.
At least six people were killed and more than 200 injured in the
mayhem that continued past midnight.
Hundreds of rival activists gathered on the streets of the capital
again on Saturday, ahead of planned rallies by the BNP and Awami League
in the afternoon.
Witnesses said police fired blank shots and used batons to disperse
opposition activists from marching to Dhaka's Paltan ground for the
rally. Some 50 activists were injured, witnesses said. |