Bangladesh war hero knows his onions with politics

DHAKA, Aug 15 (Reuters) When it comes to politics, retired Bangladesh army general Mir Shawkat Ali really knows his onions.

With a general election less than six months away, Bangladesh's rival political parties are desperate to woo influential independent leaders to their ranks, but Shawkat insists he will stick to his new day job -- trading onions, garlic and ginger.

''I pride myself as a trader and enjoy the way I am today,'' said Shawkat, who retired from the army in 1981 with the rank of lieutenant general.

Politics in Bangladesh is as multi-layered as the onions he now sells, and Shawkat's role in the country's history highlights the complex relations between friends and foes that span decades.

One of the top commanders in Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence against Pakistan, Shawkat was made a minister during current Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's first crack at the job between 1991-96.

While he is still a leader of her ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the general -- who won a medal for gallantry -- told Reuters yesterday that he would now take a back seat in politics.

''Election contestants are required to spend up to nearly 1.5 million dollars each in a mad race to win a seat in parliament. This is incompatible with the spirit of democracy,'' he said.

A close associate of Khaleda's late husband, the former president General Ziaur Rahman, Shawkat also served as high commissioner to Britain But he quit in protest at the autocratic rule of military leader Hossain Mohammad Ershad, saying: ''I felt it was my duty as a freedom fighter to help my country towards democracy.'' Ershad had seized power in a bloodless coup few months after President Ziaur Rahman was killed in an abortive mutiny in May 1981, but was ousted in 1990.

Now arch-foe Ershad heads the small opposition Jatiya Party, which is trying to make alliance with Khaleda's BNP ahead of the January election.

''As a gentleman, I will not say goodbye to politics nor will change my party,'' he said.

''But I am satisfied with my (onion) business'' Shawkat said.

REUTERS KD RAI1903