Bangladesh News

A non-stop countrywide blockade enforced by the Awami League-led 14-party alliance begins today amid heightened tension as the extended deadline given to the president/chief adviser for implementing the alliance’s 11-point task ended yesterday without meeting major demands.

Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina formally declared the blockade programme last night and urged all to observe it peacefully.

All highways, rail and waterways will be blockaded; the capital will be isolated from other parts of the country; all ports will be shut down; and districts and upazila headquarters will be brought to a standstill from today, according to the 14-party.

The 14-party alliance will blockade at 22 points in the capital and plans to hold rallies and bring out processions in Dhaka and other parts of the country until its major demands are met.

The non-party caretaker government termed the blockade programme “unlawful and unconstitutional” and urged the 14-party alliance to withdraw it.

A press note of the home ministry said the government is determined to take “all legal measures” to maintain peace and discipline in socioeconomic life, security of public life and property, and economic activities.

“The government under no circumstances can allow indiscipline and chaotic situation,” the press note said.

A total of 13,000 members of police, paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) will be deployed in the capital to ensure law and order.

“We will withdraw the blockades only when we see the caretaker government take effective initiatives to implement our demands to create a congenial atmosphere for a free and fair election,” Hasina said at a crowded press briefing at her Dhanmondi office last night.

On the caretaker government press note, she said a non-party caretaker government cannot take stand against the countrymen and a peaceful programme of any political party.

The BNP also urged the 14-party to withdraw its blockade programme, saying the AL will have to take the responsibilities for any untoward situation that foils the upcoming elections.

Rumours ran high in the capital yesterday that the chief election commissioner (CEC) has resigned. Hearing the rumour, journalists rushed to the residence of CEC MA Aziz but he did not allow them.

Meanwhile, US Assistant Secretary of State of the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Richard A Boucher arrived in Dhaka yesterday. He met both the AL and BNP chiefs, asking them to resolve the deadlock through a constitutional process.

Boucher, who was believed by politicians and general people to play a vital role in resolving the current political stalemate, is scheduled to meet President and Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed today and may request him to reconstitute the Election Commission (EC), sources said.

14-PARTY MEETINGS
To make the blockade programme a success, the 14-party alliance held a series of meetings yesterday while its senior leaders visited different districts adjacent to the capital. Rallies were also held at different places across the country.

The central and Dhaka city committees of the alliance held separate preparatory meetings, accusing Iajuddin of conspiring to meet the political agenda of the immediate past BNP-led four-party alliance government.

While briefing newsmen after a meeting of the 14-party alliance at the AL Dhanmondi office, its Coordinator Abdul Jalil also accused the president of pushing the country towards confrontation by “taking stand against the countrymen”.

Hasina on behalf of the alliance placed an 11-point charter of demands to President Iajuddin on October 30, urging him to prove his neutrality by meeting the demands by November 3. Following requests from all quarters, the 14-party alliance later extended the deadline up to November 11.

The AL-led alliance’s demands include reconstitution of the EC, removal of the CEC and three other election commissioners, correction and revision of the updated voter list, cancellation of political appointments of 300 upazila election officers and all contractual appointments, and withdrawal of all officials loyal to BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami from both civil and police administration.

Exemptions

Emergency transports of hospitals and fire brigade, and vehicles carrying journalists and newspapers will remain outside the ambit of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance’s countrywide non-stop blockades beginning today.

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina at a press briefing yesterday evening asked her alliance leaders and workers not to obstruct the movement of emergency transports.

She said hospitals, pharmacies, hotels and restaurants will also be out of the influence of the blockade programme.