JHAKA, Nov. 28, Reuter: Five key cities were under curfew and opposition leaders were held in Bangladesh on Saturday after President Hossain Mohammad Ershad declared a state of emergency to thwart a fast-growing challenge to his six years of power.
AA proclamation carried by state radio and television on Friday night said all rallies and processions would be banned and fundamental rights would remain suspended.
Police reported that they took some political leaders into custody after the emergency came into force but said that many more had gone into hiding.
The opposition said Ershad’s action would not hamper its campaign aimed at forcing out the former army general who has ruled Bangladesh since March, 1982.
According to Ershad’s decree, “the President assumed emergency powers because he felt the country’s internal security was threatened and economic life endangered”.
Eleven people, including two policemen, were killed in bomb blasts and police gunfire during general strikes lasting a total of 192 hours.
A government minister said Bangladesh has lost 50 million dollars in production and exports each day of the strikes,
AA separate order issued by the Interior Ministry barred any direct ‘or indirect criticism of the emergency rule and said newspapers must not publish any news or comment prohibited by the movement
It also banned strikes and lock outs in mills and factories for two months and prohibited all rallies and marches,
Violators could be punished With jail for up to three years, the order said, Ershad apparently declared the emergency to forestall another 72hour general! Strike due to start from Sunday. His proclamation said a 30
Hour curfew had been imposed in Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Nar ayanganj and Rajshahi towns from Friday midnight,
Police said they had arrested a number of opposition leaders since the emergency started.
Among the arrested were Mirza Golam Hafiz, a former speaker of Parliament and Zillur Rahman, an ‘opposition legislator.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 4, 1987
