BANGLADESH: Death toll rising in Bangladesh political riots after the man due to take over as interim leader withdrew just hours before taking the oath

At least nine people died and about 500 were wounded in political riots in Bangladesh on Saturday (October 28) after the man due to take over as interim leader withdrew just hours before taking the oath. Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's five-year mandate ended on Friday (October 27). Former Supreme Court chief justice K.M. Hasan was to have been sworn in as caretaker leader on Saturday, ahead of a national election due in January. A presidential spokesman said during the night that Hasan was too ill to take the oath. Hasan had told the president he was unable to become caretaker leader, he added. Street battles broke out between rival political activists on Friday evening after Khaleda made her farewell address on state television, calling for peace once she stepped down. At a rally in Dhaka, attended by Khaleda, Dhaka's Mayor Sadek Hossein warned opposition leaders against creating anarchy. At least six people were killed and more than 200 injured in mayhem on Friday that went on past midnight. Nine more people were killed on Saturday, five in Dhaka, two in eastern Narsingdi, one each in the southern port city of Chittagong and northern Kurigram, taking the death toll in two days to 15, police and hospitals said. "We have ruled the country for the last five years by the grace of God very beautifully and successfully with the support of the people of Bangladesh," Khaleda told her supporters. "Brothers and sisters , you have seen for the last few days the leaders of the opposition creating anarchy." Nearly 150 injured were taken to hospital on Saturday and about 350 were admitted elsewhere in the country. Witnesses said police fired rubber bullets and tear gas trying to disperse the fighters, who included members of the opposition Awami League, the BNP and BNP ally Jamaat-e-Islami. The opposition, citing Hasan's past association with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, had accused him of being biased in favour of the government and unsuitable to oversee the election. On Saturday, following the violence, Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed summoned leaders of the main political parties to discuss the crisis. Abdul Jalil, general secretary of the opposition Awami League, said the president would nominate an alternative caretaker leader by Sunday evening (October 29) when Khaleda would hand over the reins of power.

ITN Source | October 29, 2006

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