Mass arrests ahead of Bangladeshi elections

Bangladesh’s new interim leader took charge of security agencies and the election commission today as mass arrests continued days after the president declared a state of emergency following weeks of deadly unrest ahead of disputed elections.

New leader Fakhruddin Ahmed also met with acting Chief Election Commissioner Mahfuzur Rahman to make fresh voting plans, as the impoverished country’s two feuding political camps demanded that the ballot postponed from January 22 be held as soon as possible.

“We have planned to sit with leaders of all political parties to discuss ways on how we can proceed further,” the commission’s secretary, Abdur Rashid Sarker, said after the meeting.

Ahmed was appointed on Friday after the president stepped down as leader of the caretaker government and declared a state of emergency to quell boycott threats, paralysing strikes and violent protests alleging the election was rigged.

More than 4,000 people were detained after the announcement, including 1,518 arrested overnight and today, the Interior Ministry said.

The government said last week that disruptive elements would continue to be arrested until a new election was held.

Local news reports say people from both sides of the dispute over the elections have been detained.

The two feuding political camps demanded the new caretaker government takes steps to announce a new election. It was their first clear response since President Iajuddin Ahmed ordered the state of emergency and appointed the new administration.

The major political alliance that organised the election protests, led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also demanded new elections as soon as possible.

“We want the elections in a specific timeframe,” said alliance spokesman Abdul Jalil.

He also demanded the new caretaker administration revamp the election commission, update and correct the voters’ list and remove disputed election officials.

Separately, Hasina’s rival former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s four-party coalition also made a similar demand.

Ahmed, a respected economist and former central bank governor, took control of the Interior Ministry and Election Commission Secretariat.

The new leader distributed portfolios to five newly appointed advisers at the new government’s first meeting.

“We have discussed a range of issues including law and order, and the new elections,” said M.A. Matin, one of the five advisers.

At least 34 people have been killed in the protests that began in late October, when Zia ended her five-year term and handed over power to an interim government led by the president.

The alliance led by Hasina had threatened to boycott and disrupt the polls unless their demands for election reforms were met.

The president declared a state of emergency on Thursday, deferred the elections, and stepped aside as head of the caretaker government. A day later, he swore in Fakhruddin Ahmed, but retained the mostly ceremonial post of president .