Dhaka has second thoughts: "no restrictions” for the two ex leaders
Dhaka (AsiaNews) – Bangladesh’s provisional government has gone back on its words: there will be no attempts to exile the leaders of the two majority political parties, and restrictions on their movements in place for some weeks have been lifted. The statement followed a cabinet meeting to decide the fate of the two female leaders. Begum Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader “is neither under house arrest, nor is she preparing for exile in Saudi Arabis as some media reports have suggested”, declares the text; at the same time her historic rival Sheikh Hasina Wajed, Awami League(AL), “may return to the country” after she had been barred from flying from London to Dhaka on April 21st.
A minister denied that the government, which is ruled by the military, sought to exile the two former prime ministers, but confirmed that if Begum Zia remains, she may face corruption and extortion charges. Sheikh Hasina, meanwhile will have to answer to charges of homicide and extortion which were laid against her while she was abroad. Despite the new directives, it still remains unclear when and if the two women may participate in elections, which the interim government have promised to call in 2008.
Yesterday’s sudden statement however hides the real reason for the sudden about face: international pressure to restore democracy, described as being currently “under threat” in the country, by the US state department spokesperson; or perhaps fear of losing consensus among the population, enthusiastic about the anti corruption campaign but worried about the possible birth of a dictatorial regime. Analysts note that “even if the popularity of the BNP is in question, the AL certainly still has many supporters. These supporters were behind the protests to block the farce that Zia and her party were trying to pull off in the January 22nd elections , which were then postponed, and they did so by taking to the streets resulting in the loss faith between the leaders closest to the people”.
.png)
