Bangladesh’s Interim Government Gives Two ‘Begums’ A Reprieve
Restrictions imposed on two former Prime Ministers of Bangladesh, Begum (lady) Khaleda Zia and Begum Sheikh Hasina Wazed, have been removed, says The Independent.
“Last weekend, Sheikh Hasina, who ran Bangladesh as prime minister between 1996-2001, found herself marooned in London after the caretaker government issued a note to all airlines forbidding them from allowing her onto any flights to Dhaka.
“Ms Zia, who stepped down as prime minister last year, was placed under house arrest and many said she would be forced to go into exile in Saudi Arabia.
“The military-backed government, which took power in January and suspended the coming elections, argued the measures were needed to clean up Bangladeshi politics, after months of violent protests between supporters of Sheikh Hasina and Ms Zia’s parties left more than 45 dead and brought the country to a standstill.
“But suggestions the military were hoping to completely remove the two leaders from Bangladeshi politics met strong domestic and international criticism, and yesterday restrictions against Sheikh Hasina and Ms Zia were lifted…
“Speaking during a temporary exile in London, Sheikh Hasina warned that unless the military-backed caretaker government holds fair elections soon, the patience of the Bangladeshi people could run out.
” ‘At the moment, there is no democracy in Bangladesh at all,’ she said. ‘They have gagged the press and have yet to hold elections. I don’t know what will happen but the people will not wait forever. Once the people come out on to the street, I don’t know how long their patience will last.’
“Her remarks came as the military-backed government was forced this week to make an embarrassing climb-down and abandon its plans to exile Sheikh Hasina and her rival, Ms Zia.”
An excellent background material on Bangladesh appears in the April issue of Himal, a leading magazine of South Asia published from Nepal.
For my earlier post on Bangladesh please click here…
For a BBC country profile of Bangladesh please click here…
