Strike in Bangladesh over electoral reform

DHAKA, Dec 21: Transport and business were badly affected across Bangladesh today as the latest in a series of strikes aimed at forcing electoral reforms took hold.

Witnesses said riot police chased stone-throwing activists in the capital Dhaka where the streets were crowded with rickshaws but had few motorised vehicles.

Security was tight but no major violence was reported in the first hours of the day-long strike.

The strikes have been called by a 14-party alliance, led by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, to force the country's interim government to implement reforms ahead of a general election set for next month.

The election is set for January 22, but Hasina has asked for a delay to allow time for preparing a ''flawless'' voters list, issuing voter identity cards and enough time for campaigning by parties and candidates.

Ms Hasina's alliance also demanded President Iajuddin Ahmed, chief of the caretaker government in charge ahead of the new election, resign for being unable to act independently.

''A congenial atmosphere for a free and fair election does not exist in the country now,'' Ms Hasina told European Union officials in Dhaka.

Yesterday, Hasina rejected a government move to send on leave one election commissioner -- among several she accuses of being biased towards her rival Begum Khaleda Zia. she said the move was insufficient.

Ms Khaleda Zia, who ended her five-year term as prime minister in October and handed power to the interim authority, said Ms Hasina was ''plotting to push the country into a constitutional crisis, destroy democracy and ruin the economy.'' Ms Khaleda insists the election must be held on January. 22 as planned.

The run-up to the polls has so far been violent with at least 45 people killed and hundreds injured in clashes between political rivals since late October.

REUTERS