DHAKA: Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has said opposition Parties are boycotting the February 15 election to create a constitutional Crisis and renew the 15 year Indo-Bangladesh treaty.

They are boycotting the general Election set the instigation of their foreign masters and conspiring to renew, the treaty of bondage with India by removing her Government,” she told an election rally in northern Siraiganj town recently.

Opposition Awami League, Jatiya Party, Jamaat BIslami and other political groups abandoned the polls to press for Begum Zia’s resignation and neutral caretaker Government to ensure a fair voting.

Local units of opposition parties enforced daylong hartal in Sirajganj to disrupt the Prime Minister’s election campaign.

As Begum Zia reached the meeting venucatabout3 pm (local me) country made bomb was hurled at her motorcade, though no one was injured, the activists exploded a chain ‘of bombs around the meeting place when the Prime Minister delivered her speech amid tight security by riot police and paramilitary personnel.

Responding to the opposition’s threat of foiling the election, Begum Zia said election would be held on February 15 at any cost. She urged the people to cast their votes and foil the conspiracy against democracy and independence; she also warned that those who have resorted to violence across the country will be punished after the election.

Meanwhile, a gun battle between police and students campaigning against the next week’s national elections left at least one police official dead and 30 students injured last week police said.

Mohammad Basir, the third police official to be killed in Bangladesh this week, was trying to break up a protest ‘by 500 students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

Basir suffered gunshot wounds during an exchange of firs in the southeastern port city of Chittagong and died in a hospital, his colleagues said. Students smashed at least 50 vehicles and damaged several Government offices in the city.

Article extracted from this publication >>  February 14, 1996