Caretaker Prez in charge, troops out on Dhaka streets
PTI | Dhaka
Security forces were put on alert in Bangladesh on Monday after President Iajuddin Ahmed took charge of the caretaker government, triggering protests from the opposition which vowed to continue its campaign which has claimed more than 20 lives.
The capital was tense with the opposition taking to the streets. The army had been put on stand-by, media reports said. However, there was no independent confirmation.
Four days of street violence had paralysed the country and left at least 23 people dead and hundreds injured.
Special security, which was withdrawn two days ago, were reinstalled on Monday at the residence of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed who spearheaded the campaign for electoral reforms triggering widespread violence.
The country faced a political crisis when the five year tenure of BNP-led government ended on Friday and former SC CJ KM Hasan declined to head a caretaker government amid opposition rejection and fierce street violence.
Source: http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=WORLD&file_name=wld5%2Etxt&counter_img=5 (Oct 31st, 2006)