Ex-general calls for new political look in Bangla

Dhaka, Oct 21: Most Bangladeshi politicians have lost the respect of voters and corruption is now rife in the impoverished country, a top commander of Bangladesh's 1971 independence war said today.

''Politicians worked very hard for the last 15 years of democracy. But most of them have now lost respect in the eyes of the people and proved not to have integrity and dignity,'' retired Lieutenant-General Mir Shawkat Ali told a popular television talk show.

''So I suggest that they should go on holidays for two years.

This will give an opportunity for the nation to develop institutions and make a level field for the politicians to do politics in comfort.'' Democracy was restored in Bangladesh in 1991 after long spells of martial law and rule by generals staging coups and counter-coups.

In one such uprising the country's independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was killed in 1975, while an abortive coup in 1981 killed then president General Ziaur Rahman.

Mujib was the father of now opposition leader Sheikh Hasina and Ziaur was husband of current Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

''Since their deaths the politicians have been mostly engaged in quarrels for power and wealth while the country slipped into deep corruption,'' Shawkat said.

Reuters