Bangladesh president declares state of emergency

Bangladesh’s President Iajuddin Ahmed today declared a state of emergency, his press secretary said and state-run television said.

Ahmed was expected to address the nation shortly on television and radio to explain the reason why he took this step, President’s Press Secretary Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury said.

The president’s move came following weeks of violent street protests and crippling blockades sponsored by a key political alliance demanding postponement of January 22 general elections.

The protests have left at least 34 people dead since late October.

The European Union today called back election observers from Bangladesh because of political strife before the January 22 polls.

“It has become clear that we cannot pursue the election observation mission as we had hoped,” EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said.

A key political alliance yesterday announced a series of fresh street protests to demand national elections be postponed, as tens of thousands of troops fanned out across the country.