Bangladeshis mull fate of political matriarchs

Dhaka, Apr 23: While ordinary Bangladeshis have given enthusiastic support to the army-backed interim administration, moves to force the country's two most powerful political party leaders into exile could backfire, observers say.

Sheikh Hasina, a former Prime Minister and head of the Awami League,was refused permission last week to return home from a holiday in the United States, while her main rival, Begum Khaleda Zia, is reportedly under house arrest pending forced exile in Saudi Arabia.

The interim administration of former central bank chief Fakhruddin Ahmed has banned party activity since declaring emergency rule in January, ostensibly to root out corruption they say has stained the country's political scene for decades.

Elections scheduled for January 22 have been postponed indefinitely while a new voters' roll is prepared.

''Trying to shut them out of politics ... gives a clear signal that the current administration has something in mind beyond just fighting corruption,'' said a senior official who asked not to be identified.

''It is indeed true that too much greed and power mongering by the politicians pushed the country into a crisis, but no one can accept that the reins of power remain in the hands of non-politicians for a long time,'' he added.

Some ordinary citizens feel the two matriarchs of Bangladesh politics are being treated unfairly.

''They are both citizens of the country and have every right to live like a free person until any charges of wrongdoing have been proved,'' said Abdus Salam, a businessman in Dhaka.

''We are shocked and confused,'' said another.

Mainul Husein, the law adviser to the interim authority, said they would remain in power only for as long as it took to hold a free and fair election, but many are asking how long that will take.

Mainul said much depended on how quickly political parties reformed themselves and their leadership, but observers see his remarks as interference.

''Who is he to dictate terms to parties on how they would be governed? It's matter for the parties themselves to decide,'' said Matia Chowdhury, a senior leader of the Awami League.

Bitter rivals Hasina and Khaleda -- who were thrust into politics following the deaths of their father and husband respectively -- have alternated as prime minister for 15 years.

Khaleda ended her five-year term in October, handing power to an interim authority to organise a new election.

But the country was plunged into chaos by political clashes and economic disruption in the following weeks, provoking the emergency and cancellation of the election.

Security forces have since arrested more than 160 key political figures including Khaleda's son, Tareque Rahman, for alleged extortion and abuse of power.

But support wavered when the government reportedly pressed Khaleda to go into exile and ordered a ban on Hasina's homecoming.

Army chief Lieutenant-General Moeen U Ahmed has assured people in public speeches that the army does not want to take power but rather just help the interim administration perform its duties.

But with the latest developments surrounding Hasina and Khaleda, people are recalling that army generals have ruled the country for 15 years in one guise or the other.

REUTERS

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