AP News, January 7th, 2007
Police on Saturday declared a ban on demonstrations in the Bangladesh capital ahead of a two-day nationwide transport blockade planned by a major political alliance to force electoral reforms.
The ban on demonstrations and carrying weapons will be imposed starting Sunday, according a police statement.
About 12,000 police and soldiers will be deployed across the capital, where a 19-party political alliance planned to block roads and railways on Sunday and Monday to isolate the city from the rest of the country.
Schools and businesses are expected to stay shut, fearing a repeat of violence seen in previous protests. At least 34 people have been killed in demonstrations since October.
Protesters accuse the interim government in charge of organizing Jan. 22 elections of favoring their opponents, a four-party coalition led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
The 19-party alliance, led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, wants the vote delayed until electoral reforms are complete, including the revision of a voter list.
The group vowed to go ahead with the strike
"If they try to stop us, we will continue our protests until the election day," said alliance spokesman Obaidul Qader.
The alliance accused police of detaining about 1,500 activists ahead of the planned protests. But a police Web site said it had detained about 600 people for various crimes.
Bangladesh has a history of political turmoil. Two presidents have been slain in military coups, and Hasina and Zia have traded premierships since the restoration of democracy in 1991.
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Associated Press writer Julhas Alam also contributed to this report.
