DHAKA, Bangladesh – The chief election commissioner is taking a three-month leave in a bid to end a nationwide strike that has paralyzed Bangladesh, the interim president said Wednesday.
A coalition of 14 political parties has staged protests this month that have disrupted transport and forced businesses and schools to shut down. The coalition is demanding a series of electoral reforms, including the removal of Chief Election Commissioner M.A. Aziz and his three deputies, whom they accuse of bias.
Aziz was taking the leave “in the better interest of the nation,” President Iajuddin Ahmed said in a televised speech Wednesday night. “Now I hope that his decision will end the political deadlock.”
Ahmed said he would appoint two more commissioners, but he did not indicate who would take over from Aziz.
A spokesman for the protesters said the government announcement did not go far enough, demanding the removal of Aziz's three deputies.
“The news of Aziz's going on leave is a victory for the nation. But other commissioners have not been removed,” spokesman Abdul Jalil said after meeting with Ahmed. “This half-solution is not acceptable.”
He said the alliance also wants the interim government to appoint new commissioners after consulting with all political parties.
Clashes between rival political activists left one man dead and several others injured across the country Wednesday, witnesses said.
The man was stabbed after three homemade bombs exploded near a rally of anti-strike activists in Bogra, a town north of Dhaka, witness Hasibur Rahman said by telephone. No one was hurt by the bombs.
Riot police in Dhaka used batons to quell clashes between supporters of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and ex-military ruler Hossain Mohammad Ershad.
Ershad's Jatiya Party has backed the strikes, while Zia's party opposes them.
The latest strike disrupted rail and road transportation and shut down businesses and schools for the third straight day Wednesday, after violent clashes left two demonstrators dead and dozens injured on Tuesday.
Zia's coalition ended its five-year term in October, transferring power to a caretaker government that will run the nation through the January elections.
Associated Press writer Farid Hossain in Dhaka contributed to this report.
