Secret talks raise tensions in Bangladesh crisis

BANGLADESH: Bangladesh's political crisis deepened further on Sunday after the interim government said it would investigate reports that key state officials attended a secret late-night meeting hosted by a former ministry adviser.

Leaders of a 14-party alliance locked in a furious struggle with the former ruling coalition ahead of general elections in January accused the participants of plotting to rig the polls.

Friday's meeting, at an office owned by Mahmudur Rahman, adviser to the energy ministry under the previous Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government, was revealed by reporters.

Television footage showed participants trying to avoid the cameras but some were identified either as retired or serving state officials.

Mahmudur, who also served as executive chairman of the Bangladesh Board of Investment, could be seen trying to reason with reporters as his guests fled.

He said he had invited them over to visit his new office, but could not say why it had to be late at night. Mahmudur was unavailable for comment on Sunday.

The television reports said those present included known loyalists of BNP leader Begum Khaleda Zia, whose five-year term as prime minister expired in October. She is a key contender in the coming election.

Abdul Jalil, general secretary of the Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina, another former prime minister, told reporters late on Saturday the meeting had been convened "to work out a formula to rig the coming vote to bring Khaleda back to power".

He and other leaders of Hasina's 14-party alliance demanded the state officials be sacked and all at the meeting punished.

The interim government running the country until the election vowed to investigate the "circumstances of the meeting" and take appropriate steps. The new controversy broke as the caretaker administration was struggling to ensure that all parties took part in the election to make it credible.

With the exception of Khaleda's BNP and three allied parties, all the country's political groups backed a street blockade campaign earlier this month that eventually forced the temporary departure of chief election commissioner M.A. Aziz, whom they accuse of pro-Khaleda bias.

Aziz agreed to take a three-month leave of absence, but left an equally controversial deputy in charge.

Khaleda's opponents said they would step up their efforts to force out all the election commissioners, including acting chief Mahfuzur Rahman, who they say is as biased as his chief. The constitution says elections must take place within three months of a government ending its mandate.

As Khaleda departed in October, barely two months now remain to complete the process. On Saturday Khaleda asked the interim government, headed by President Iajuddin Ahmed, to persuade the election commission to announce poll schedules immediately.

"If they don't, and if the election is not held timely, you (interim authority) will be held responsible for any constitutional crisis the country may have to face," she said.

Hasina has warned the government not to announce the schedules until the "election commission is fully reorganised and the voters' list is updated".

DHAKA, Sunday, Reuters