Bangladesh Declares State of Emergency

Just in case you're in the middle of planning your dream holiday in Bangladesh, you might be interested in the following from the BANGKOK POST:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=115949

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Bangladesh Declares State of Emergency

Dhaka (dpa) - Bangladesh's President Iajuddin Ahmad declared a state of emergency Thursday after more than two months of political turmoil across the country that shattered the economy and threatened the fledgling democracy.

In a televised address to the nation late Thursday night, Iajuddin also announced his resignation from the position of the chief of the caretaker government, promising to appoint an acceptable person to the office.

Earlier Iajuddin called out the army to quell the escalating political violence sparked by a standoff between the two biggest political alliances led by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and outgoing premier Khaleda Zia.

Night curfew has been imposed from 11 pm (1700 GMT) to 5 am (2300 GMT) in Dhaka and other cities and major towns.

State radio said the state of emergency would last until further notice. It come amid bitter wrangling over organising general elections planned for January 22.

The previous day had seen tens of thousands of soldiers with sweeping powers to arrest persons without warrants launch a crackdown on anti-government protests as opposition parties vowed to resist the election.

The deployment of the army was in addition to riot police and paramilitary border guards called out to quell protests over the virtually one-sided election.

A united opposition led by Hasina's Awami League were abstaining from the upcoming polls, accusing the caretaker government of Ahmed of favouring outgoing Prime Minister Zia whose Nationalist-Islamist alliance is seeking a second term of five years.

Hasina adopted a tough stance against the interim administration, declaring further nationwide protests across the country from a rally in Dhaka.