One more dead in Bangladesh political violence

Dhaka, Dec 22: At least one person was killed and 20 injured as standoff between Bangladesh's interim government and a political alliance ahead of next month's elections again spiralled into violence today.

Clashes erupted at a village near Jessore district 280 km west of Dhaka, when activists of the Awami League and its rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) came face to face while campaiging ahead of the January 22 elections.

Police said 10 houses were set on fire and 25 buildings vandalised.

A 14-party alliance led by the Awami League said it might make a decision soon to boycott the polls.

Yesterday's strike was called to force the interim authorities to implement reforms ahead of the election.

Awami chief Sheikh Hasina has called for a postponement of the polls to allow more time for campaigning and to overhaul the voter registration lists.

''A clear decision to boycott the election will come soon if the authorities do not accept the demands,'' Awami League general secretary Abdul Jalil told reportes today.

Begum Khaleda Zia, chief of the BNP and who ended her five-year term as prime minister in October, has ruled out any delay.

The run-up to the polls have been marred by violence and so far 46 people have died and hundreds injured in clashes between political rivals since late October.

Khaleda Zia and Hasina are the main contenders in the coming polls, after alternating as prime ministers of the impoverished country for the last 15 years.

Khaleda and Hasina, had joined forces in late 1990 to topple former army ruler Hossain Mohammad Ershad from power. They fell out soon after and have remained bitter foes.

The two women fell out after Ershad's fall and have not spoken to each other for a decade or so.

Reuters