Speaker's decision averts crisis in Bangladesh

By Our Special Correspondent

DHAKA, OCT. 7. The Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, is going ahead with its plans of launching a countrywide agitation for fresh election despite negative feedback from the people.

However, the Speaker of the last Parliament, Mr. Abdul Hamid, who belongs to the Awami League, has announced that he would administer oath to the MPs-elect on October 9, 10 and 11.

This will delay the formation of Begum Khaleda Zia's government by a few days but it has averted a possible constitutional crisis. The Bangladesh National Party (BNP) and its allies have welcomed the Speaker's decision as his refusal would have required Presidential intervention and finally a ruling from the Supreme Court.

Though Sheikh Hasina and her party leaders will not take oath, the high command has given the green signal to the Speaker. Significantly, the party is contesting the re-polling for 16 constituencies to be held on October 8. ``The Speaker is an institution. He will definitely administer the oath,'' Sheikh Hasina told a private television channel. Despite allegations about the ``highly partisan role'' of the interim government and the ``neutrality'' of the Election Commission and law-enforcing agencies, angry grassroots leaders of the Awami League have targeted some Ministers and their relatives, as responsible for the debacle, owing to rampant corruption and ineffectiveness while in power.

It is now believed that the poll management of the BNP and the Jamaat-led alliance, whose election fund was enormous, was far more ``professional'' than that of their rival. The votebank of the radical Islamists also played a crucial role. Despite the debacle, the Awami League's vote increased by nearly three per cent compared to 1996.

Controversies and a visible feeling of disbelief about the poll results apart, the national mood is against the Awami League's decision to launch a movement for fresh elections. Western diplomats and observers have certified the October 1 poll results as ``free, fair and credible'' while the United States said on Friday that it looked forward to working with a new government. Business leaders have also urged all parties to ``accept the poll verdict and behave responsibly'' in the interest of the country's economy, even as they congratulated Begum Zia. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Harun-ar-Rashid, has also congratulated Begum Zia, media reports said.

The Awami League though is readying for its ``non- cooperation movement'' after the expiry of the October 10 ultimatum.

It believes that since the results were ``crudely manipulated under a blueprint'' far beyond ``any reasonable calculation'' and also the caretaker government's ``partisan role was sufficiently proved'', it was hopeful of convincing the people about the ``electoral fraud''.

Meanwhile, the image of the BNP and the Jamaat-led alliance has taken a beating after its activists attacked Awami League supporters, freedom fighters and members of the minority community across the country.

Many people died and scores were injured during the last six days, according to newspaper reports.

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Section  : International
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