Bangla ports, business open after blockade ends

Dhaka, Nov 24: Ports and businesses reopened across Bangladesh today and traffic streamed back into the streets after a four day transport blockade ended, the latest in a political campaign ahead of elections next year.

The blockade ordered by a 14-party alliance led by Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League party was called off after the chief election commissioner, accused of a bias towards its main opponent, stepped aside.

''Things are looking better, we can go back to our normal lives,'' said Hafizur Rahman, a government official attending an annual festival to mark the rice harvest season which coincided with the end of the shutdown.

The blockade shut down transports, ports and schools across the impoverished country of 140 million people.

Ten people were killed and hundreds injured in clashes between rival political parties during the shutdown over the past four days.

The Awami League said it welcomed the decision of the chief election commissioner M A Aziz to go on leave, but would keep up the pressure on the country's interim administration to carry out more electoral reforms to ensure a free and fair election next January.

''We can't have a farcical vote under people with questionable character,'' Hasina said. Her party had demanded that the government also sack Aziz's deputies, accused of a similar bias towards its rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

Election commission officials said one of Aziz's three deputies, Mahfuzur Rahman had taken over as acting election commission chief, a move which could further anger the Awami League.

Elections in Bangladesh have been violent in the past and marred by allegations of rigging and voter intimidation.

Reuters