BANGLADESH:Bangladesh's interim administration is under pressure to postpone elections scheduled for January 22nd. Western governments have signalled they will scale down observer missions that would have helped to legitimise the controversial polls.
Nationwide strikes and street clashes have beset the country for months as the Awami League, which leads a 14-party opposition alliance, has pressed demands it says must be fulfilled for the vote to be fair.
The stand-off reached a new peak after the interim government failed to meet a weekend deadline to publish a revised voter roll as the Awami League, which had already announced its pull-out from the election, called a three-day transport blockade.
At least 50 people were injured and 30 detained as police fired rubber bullets and tear gas. The protesters plan to surround the president's office today.
The EU had planned to bring in 150 election observers to supplement diplomatic staff stationed in the country. The mission is now in limbo.
"The European Union is deeply concerned and disappointed by recent developments . . . in particular the decision by major parties to withdraw from participating," it said over the weekend.
The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry urged the caretaker government to declare a state of emergency.
Mohammad Ali, its acting president, said at the weekend: "We businessmen want an election where all political parties take part, including the two major parties. If there is no way to hold such an election, please save the country from any kind of confrontation by declaring an emergency."
A European diplomat stationed in Dhaka said the EU was unlikely to suspend aid or impose sanctions if the election went ahead as scheduled.
The Bangladesh Nationalist party, whose five years in government with its Islamic allies ran out in October, has so far seemed almost impervious to street protests and international pressure.
It maintains the polls cannot be postponed. Party leader and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, said 19 BNP parliamentary candidates running unopposed had already been declared official winners.
Ms Zia said abstaining parties would be to blame if the polls became "less acceptable". - ( Financial Times service)