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Bangladesh transport strike looms Bangladesh gripped by blockades
(about 7 hours later)
A three-day transport blockade across Bangladesh is due to start as part of an opposition campaign for reforms ahead of this month's election. Thousands of troops have deployed across the Bangladeshi capital as a three-day nationwide blockade to try to force electoral reforms gets under way.
An alliance of opposition parties, led by the Awami League, has said it will boycott the 22 January election because it will not be free and fair. The blockade of roads, railways and ports is being organised by an alliance of political parties who want elections scheduled for this month postponed.
The government denies the allegation and 12,000 security forces will be deployed across the capital, Dhaka. The Awami League and its allies say they will boycott the 22 January poll, alleging it will not be free and fair.
Police said there would be a ban on marches in Dhaka during the blockade. But Bangladeshi President Iajuddin Ahmed says the elections will go ahead.
Opposition leaders said the three-day nationwide transport blockade would go ahead unless the government agreed to reforms. The BBC's John Sudworth in the capital, Dhaka, says this is a constitutional crisis being played out on the streets.
Opposition spokesman Abdul Jalil said: "We will not accept farcical elections. We will shut down the country for weeks if the government goes ahead with holding the elections." He says the army is patrolling Dhaka, a clear sign of the threat of a repeat of the scenes of violence that have marred the previous protests over the past few months.
But President Iajuddin Ahmed, head of the caretaker government, said the constitution demanded the polls be held within 90 days, and they would proceed. Our correspondent says police have already baton charged some protesters in the capital, where the situation is very tense.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led government handed power to the interim administration at the end of October.
Fears of violence
The BBC's John Sudworth in Dhaka says the opposition will try to block roads and railways in an attempt to bring the city to a halt.
But he says the police ban on demonstrations means there are fears there could be more scenes of violence.
Previous agitation over the issue has led to more than 30 deaths countrywide.Previous agitation over the issue has led to more than 30 deaths countrywide.
The Awami League says more than 1,000 activists have been detained ahead of the protests. 'Arrests'
Opposition spokesman Abdul Jalil said: "We will not accept farcical elections. We will shut down the country for weeks if the government goes ahead with holding the elections."
But President Ahmed, head of the caretaker government, said the constitution demanded the polls be held within 90 days, and they would proceed.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led government handed power to the interim administration at the end of October.
The Awami League said more than 1,000 activists were detained ahead of the protests.
Its main demand is that the government use an updated version of the 2000 voter register, and not one created over the past few years.Its main demand is that the government use an updated version of the 2000 voter register, and not one created over the past few years.
The political bloc led by the BNP accuses the Awami League of "sensing defeat" and being determined to sabotage the elections.The political bloc led by the BNP accuses the Awami League of "sensing defeat" and being determined to sabotage the elections.