Bangladesh’s Political Crackdown Jails 18,000

In the past two weeks, 18,000 have been arrested in Bangladesh in a political crackdown. The Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have refused to accede to the conditions of military government for December’s elections. Each is led by a woman currently in jail for corruption charges. The parties want their leaders released before they cooperate. The government is rounding up party activists to force the civilians into line.

Former Prime Ministers Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League and Khaleda Zia of the BNP are in police custody on corruption-related charges. Ms. Hasina is suspected to taking bribes while Ms. Zia is being held on charges of graft for improperly awarding a multi-million dollar government contract. The two women loathe one another, and their rivalry has caused violence in the streets in the past.

Kamrul Ahsan, a spokesman for Bangladesh Police, denied that the detentions were political. “Our IGP [Inspector General of Police] categorically said this special drive was being conducted to create a congenial atmosphere before the general election, is not politically motivated. The intention is not to harass anybody politically.”

Brad Adams of the New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a statement that this wasn’t so. “The timing and targets of the arrests are a dead giveaway they are politically motivated. It’s obvious that they are paying the price for the political parties' refusal to accept the government's conditions to participate in the elections.”

Both women are likely to be released later today. Ms. Hasina will be leaving the country for medical treatment, and her supporters fear she may not be allowed back. Ms. Zia may also be sent abroad by the military government. It is difficult to see how the government will be able to secure the support of the BNP or the Awami League under these circumstances. This may result in the December elections being postponed or even cancelled.

Meanwhile, the government has announced its new budget that includes $14.6 billion for subsidies and “social protection measures.” With soaring food and energy prices, maybe the civilian politicians are not in any hurry to return to power.

© Copyright 2008 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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