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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| New Bangladesh advisers appointed | New Bangladesh advisers appointed |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Four new members have been sworn into Bangladesh's temporary cabinet to replace four who resigned on Monday. | Four new members have been sworn into Bangladesh's temporary cabinet to replace four who resigned on Monday. |
| They stepped down questioning President Iajuddin Ahmed's commitment to organising a free and fair vote after he called the army onto the streets. | They stepped down questioning President Iajuddin Ahmed's commitment to organising a free and fair vote after he called the army onto the streets. |
| His move came after weeks of political unrest as parties opposed to the last government demand electoral reforms. | His move came after weeks of political unrest as parties opposed to the last government demand electoral reforms. |
| The US-based group Human Rights Watch expressed concern at the decision to deploy troops ahead of January's vote. | The US-based group Human Rights Watch expressed concern at the decision to deploy troops ahead of January's vote. |
| 'Abusive military' | 'Abusive military' |
| The new cabinet members are a former army general, a retired professor, the head of a non-governmental organisation and a former bureaucrat. | |
| BBC's Roland Buerk in the capital, Dhaka, says their appointment is unlikely to end the turmoil gripping the country. | |
| If the military is to promote law and order today, it must respect the law Brad Adams, Human Rights Watch | If the military is to promote law and order today, it must respect the law Brad Adams, Human Rights Watch |
| Supporters of the Awami League party, which has led protests for electoral reform, took to the streets again on Tuesday in Dhaka. | Supporters of the Awami League party, which has led protests for electoral reform, took to the streets again on Tuesday in Dhaka. |
| Party leaders say some of the new cabinet members have links with the rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which was in power until October. | Party leaders say some of the new cabinet members have links with the rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which was in power until October. |
| They repeated allegations that President Ahmed is not neutral and not fit to oversee free and fair elections. | |
| One new adviser, Shafiqul Haq Chowdhury, denied the suggestion that he was biased. | One new adviser, Shafiqul Haq Chowdhury, denied the suggestion that he was biased. |
| The government has said it had made the decision to deploy troops on Saturday in order "to protect public life and property". | The government has said it had made the decision to deploy troops on Saturday in order "to protect public life and property". |
| Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said: "Past experience with Bangladeshi leaders deploying the military gives us serious cause for concern. "During the last major deployment in 2002, more than 50 people died after being arrested by troops." | Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said: "Past experience with Bangladeshi leaders deploying the military gives us serious cause for concern. "During the last major deployment in 2002, more than 50 people died after being arrested by troops." |
| Mr Adams said "abusive members of the military have enjoyed near-total immunity for their violent crimes in the past". | Mr Adams said "abusive members of the military have enjoyed near-total immunity for their violent crimes in the past". |
| "If the military is to promote law and order today, it must respect the law." | "If the military is to promote law and order today, it must respect the law." |
| 'Biased' | 'Biased' |
| Despite the deployment, the Awami League has pledged more protests before the nation votes on 23 January. | Despite the deployment, the Awami League has pledged more protests before the nation votes on 23 January. |
| Awami League supporters have held daily protests | Awami League supporters have held daily protests |
| The party and its allies are demanding changes they say are necessary for free and fair elections. | The party and its allies are demanding changes they say are necessary for free and fair elections. |
| Several nationwide blockades have been held in recent weeks to press for reforms, including updating the electoral register. | Several nationwide blockades have been held in recent weeks to press for reforms, including updating the electoral register. |
| Last week, the electoral commission said the vote, originally set for 21 January, would be delayed by two days because of continuing political turmoil. | Last week, the electoral commission said the vote, originally set for 21 January, would be delayed by two days because of continuing political turmoil. |
| BNP leader Khaleda Zia ended her five-year term as prime minister on 28 October, handing power to a caretaker administration headed by President Ahmed. | BNP leader Khaleda Zia ended her five-year term as prime minister on 28 October, handing power to a caretaker administration headed by President Ahmed. |
| At least 44 people have been killed and hundreds injured in clashes across the country since her tenure expired. | At least 44 people have been killed and hundreds injured in clashes across the country since her tenure expired. |
| Under the Bangladeshi constitution, a caretaker government must hold elections within 90 days of taking power. | Under the Bangladeshi constitution, a caretaker government must hold elections within 90 days of taking power. |