Roundup: Bangladeshi PM rules out state of emergency to tackle political violence

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has decided not to impose a state of emergency, cooling speculation that an authoritarian crackdown is imminent to tackle violence of major opposition alliance-enforced countrywide nonstop blockade that entered 30th day on Wednesday.

"There is no need for imposing emergency," Sheikh Hasina told parliament in response to a question from a parliamentarian on Wednesday afternoon during the question hour for the prime minister.

"No such situation has been arisen in the country to impose state of emergency. Law enforcers are there. They are taking all required measures to contain violence. People are with us," the prime minister added.

The fresh wave of violence has resulted in the deaths of at least 42 people and injuries of hundreds as the anti-government protesters allegedly battled with law enforcers, attacked rivals, torched vehicles and targeted railways since the morning of Jan. 6.

At least seven passengers were burnt to death and 16 others either injured or burnt early on Tuesday as miscreants hurled a bomb at a passenger bus in Bangladesh's eastern Comilla district, some 92 km away of capital Dhaka.

Scores of Bangladeshi opposition leaders and activists including ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia have been sued over Tuesday's deadly arson attack in eastern Bangladesh during the countrywide non-stop blockade.

"BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) Chairperson Khaleda Zia is named as an instigator in two cases as the arson attack was carried out in line with her instruction," a police official who preferred to be unnamed told Xinhua Wednesday. A BNP spokesperson was not immediately available for comments.

Khaleda Zia's opposition alliance including key Jamaat-e-Islami party has been observing the nonstop blockade across the country since Jan. 5, demanding fresh elections under a non-party caretaker government system.

Khaleda Zia, who alleged that she has been kept confined to her office in Dhaka's diplomatic enclave Gulshan since Jan. 4 night, announced indefinite blockade across the country after her alliance was barred from holding rally on Jan. 5 in capital Dhaka.

Incidents of clash, arson, vandalism, chase and counter-chase, bomb explosions and detention have been reported across the country every day since the night of Jan. 5.

Hundreds of vehicles were smashed or set on fire during the ongoing blockade.

Khaleda Zia, also Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson, has urged her party men to continue blockade until the government is forced to sit in a dialogue on holding a free, fair and inclusive election.

Some 21 opposition parties including Khaleda Zia's BNP boycotted the elections held on Jan. 5, 2014 over Sheikh Hasina's refusal to introduce a non-party interim government to oversee the elections.

Violence has remained unabated since Jan. 5 around Bangladesh as rift between Sheikh Hasina's ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL) party and Khaleda Zia's BNP-led 20-party alliance widens with their rigid stances.

Hasina told the parliament Wednesday that BNP and its key ally Jamaat have been killing innocent people by blasting firebombs since last month.

Hasina said her government is committed to ensuring safety of the lives and properties of people. Culprits responsible for creating anarchy will be brought to book, she added.

She said members of the anti-crime elite force Rapid Action Battalion, paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh and police are capable of dealing with the criminal elements.

Khaleda's main opposition Tuesday extended its ongoing 72-hour nationwide strike till Thursday evening, protesting filing of cases against ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and other leaders.

In the early hours of Saturday, an official close to Khaleda Zia's office in Dhaka's diplomatic enclave Gulshan said the authorities had cut electricity supply to the office where she has been staying since Jan. 4 after she was barred from joining her alliance's anti-government rally.

Hours after disconnection of power supply, the official said Internet and cable connections to her office were also severed on Saturday.

Against this backdrop, Khaleda Zia has urged her party men to continue blockade until the government is forced to have a dialogue on holding a fresh free, fair and inclusive election.

BNP and its allies have last month tabled a seven-point proposal to Hasina's government for an immediate "inclusive general election."

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's AL party has already rejected the proposal. AL spokesman Syed Ashraful Islam said the next parliamentary elections will be held with Sheikh Hasina at the helm. The present government will stay in power till January 28, 2019, he said.

Hasina had earlier said Khaleda is not confined to her office but she has held countrymen hostage in the name of blockade.

Analysts have already warned that the mounting political crisis triggered by the rigid stances of rival parties could threaten the country's already weak economy and drive away investors. Endi