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Khaleda coalition Govt. losing stability?

Khaleda coalition Govt. losing stability?

Author: Haroon Habib
Publication: The Hindu
Date: February 1, 2003
URL: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2003/02/01/stories/2003020102261700.htm

A few socio-political developments, at home and abroad, have led observers to think that the four-party alliance Government led by Begum Khaleda Zia in Bangladesh may be becoming "unstable''.

The unbridled increase in the price of essentials, inclusion of the country by the United States in the terror-risk list, the indemnity ordinance providing immunity to troops involved in the recent anti-crime drive and the growing tensions on the border with India on issues of "push-ins'' and ``push-backs'' may be affecting the Government's stability, a major independent daily, Prothom Alo has reported.

While the Government has become "over sensitive" on the issue of ``protecting the country's image abroad'' and arrested a number of journalists on charges of "sedition", a key Western diplomat remarked that the Government had to be blamed for Bangladesh's poor image abroad.

Reacting to concerns that Washington's decision to include Bangladesh in the terror-risk list would damage its international image, the U.S. ambassador, Mary Ann Peters, said it was not a decision taken by the U.S. but "some recent developments, including providing indemnity to the joint forces have worsened the country's image.'' Ms Peters, who has all along been defending the BNP-Jamaat Government despite criticism by secular lobbies, made the vital observations when a high profile business delegation met her to express their concern over the terror list issue.

To the embarrassment of the Government, she told the businessmen that the indemnity ordinance had not been welcomed by the West, particularly the U.S. Despite criticism, the Government has placed the ordinance in Parliament for approval.

The ruling alliance recently lost the high profile Narayangonj and Magurawhich municipal elections to the main opposition Awami League, denting the Government's popular image.

"The internal crisis is deepening and it is difficult to know how the Government is running'', a number of unnamed senior Ministers were quoted as saying by an influential daily.

Contrary to expectations, India-Bangladesh relations have entered a new phase with most national dailies reporting "serious tension'' over repeated "push-ins'' and "push- backs'' by the Border Security Force of India and BDR of Bangladesh. The two border forces have also exchanged fire many times.

The BDR and villagers foiled several attempts by the BSF to push hundreds of "Bengali-speaking'' people across the border, said Bangladesh newspapers.

The BDR has doubled the number of its troops in the border town of Benapole after the BSF tried to push in hundreds of people at night, The Daily Star reported.

The Government of India, has meanwhile, termed the push- ins charges as "baseless'' and "absurd" and asked Bangladesh to realise the seriousness of the problem of illegal immigration.
 


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