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| Bangladesh calm after president takes charge | | |
Dhaka, Oct 30
Security forces were put on alert in Bangladesh today after President Iajuddin Ahmed took charge of the caretaker government, triggering protests from the opposition which vowed to continue its campaign which has claimed more than 20 lives.
The capital was tense with the opposition taking to the streets.
The army had been put on stand-by, media reports said. However, there was no independent confirmation.
Four days of street violence had paralysed the country and left at least 23 people dead and hundreds injured.
Special security, which was withdrawn two days ago, were reinstalled today at the residence of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed who spearheaded the campaign for electoral reforms triggering widespread violence.
The country faced a political crisis when the five year tenure of BNP-led government ended on Friday and former Supreme Court Chief Justice K M Hasan declined to head a caretaker government amid opposition rejection and fierce street violence.
Ending the power vacuum, President Ahmed last night took oath as the head of a caretaker government to oversee parliamentary polls due in January.
After taking oath, Ahmed sought the cooperation of political parties to hold free and fair general elections early next year and restore peace in the country.
Earlier yesterday Ahmed held talks with leaders of four major political parties for finding a consensus candidate to head an interim administration. |
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