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Bangladesh police out in force as tension rises over missing politician Bangladesh police out in force as tension rises over missing politician
(about 3 hours later)
Thousands of security forces were on the streets of major cities and towns in Bangladesh following a call by the main opposition party to protest over the alleged abduction of a senior politician. Thousands of security personnel were on the streets of major cities and towns in Bangladesh following a call by the main opposition party to protest over the alleged abduction of a senior politician.
Ilias Ali, a key organiser with the Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP), disappeared on Tuesday shortly after leaving his home in Dhaka, the capital. His abandoned car and phone were found by police.Ilias Ali, a key organiser with the Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP), disappeared on Tuesday shortly after leaving his home in Dhaka, the capital. His abandoned car and phone were found by police.
More than 20 people have gone missing in recent months, according to local human rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra, almost half the total for the whole of last year. Many are opposition political activists. International campaign groups have blamed the paramilitary Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and local police. The RAB have denied the charge, saying that many of those who have turned up dead were involved in crime and killed by associates or rivals. More than 20 people have gone missing in recent months, according to local human rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra, almost half the total for the whole of last year. Many are opposition political activists. International campaign groups have blamed the paramilitary Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and local police. The RAB has denied the charge, saying that many of those found dead were involved in crime and had been killed by associates or rivals.
The director of the RAB's legal wing, Commander Mohammed Sohail, said an operation had been launched to recover Ali and a search was continuing. Police officials contacted by The Guardian refused to comment on the case. The director of the RAB's legal wing, Commander Mohammed Sohail, said an operation had been launched to recover Ali and a search was continuing. Police officials contacted by the Guardian refused to comment.
Ali's wife, Tahsina Rushdir, said her husband had been campaigning for the BNP in Sylhet, in the north-east of the country, before he disappeared. "He told me that the government was making a list of people who were being critical about them. He wouldn't be picked up this way unless he had posed threat to the government," she said.Ali's wife, Tahsina Rushdir, said her husband had been campaigning for the BNP in Sylhet, in the north-east of the country, before he disappeared. "He told me that the government was making a list of people who were being critical about them. He wouldn't be picked up this way unless he had posed threat to the government," she said.
The disappearance comes amid renewed political tensions in the south Asian state, home to 160 million people. More than 30 were injured in clashes between opposition activists and the police on the streets of Dhaka last week. Runaway inflation, rising inequality and recent corruption charges against some ministers have all combined to undermine the popularity of the government of Sheik Hasina, in power since winning a landslide victory in 2008. Speaking in Dhaka last week, Hasina said Ali might have been "hiding somewhere" on the orders of his party. Politics in Bangladesh, which won independence from Pakistan after a bloody conflict in 1971, has been marked for decades by the personal rivalry of Sheikh Hasina, head of the Bangladesh Awami League, and Khaleda Zia, leader of the BNP. The disappearance comes amid renewed political tensions in the south Asian state, home to 160 million people. More than 30 were injured in clashes between opposition activists and the police on the streets of Dhaka last week. Runaway inflation, rising inequality and recent corruption charges against some ministers have all combined to undermine the popularity of the government of Sheikh Hasina, in power since winning a landslide victory in 2008.
This has not however prevented economic growth rates that are among south Asia's highest and some significant improvements in specific areas such as education. But governance and the rule of law remain weak. Adilur Rahman Khan, secretary of the Bangladeshi human rights group Odhikar said the disappearances were "a result of the impunity granted to the law enforcement [agencies] for the last 41 years". The RAB has received training from the British police, The Guardian revealed in 2010. Speaking in Dhaka last week, Hasina said Ali might be "hiding somewhere" on the orders of his party. Politics in Bangladesh, which won independence from Pakistan after a bloody conflict in 1971, has been marked for decades by the personal rivalry of Hasina, head of the Bangladesh Awami League, and Khaleda Zia, leader of the BNP.
This has not prevented economic growth rates that are among south Asia's highest and some significant improvements in specific areas such as education. But governance and the rule of law remain weak. Adilur Rahman Khan, secretary of the Bangladeshi human rights group Odhikar, said the disappearances were "a result of the impunity granted to the law enforcement [agencies] for the last 41 years". The RAB has received training from the British police, the Guardian revealed in 2010.
Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of the Bangladesh chapter of Berlin-based Transparency International, blamed "growing partisan political influence on key institutions of democratic accountability". This, he said, was "undermining their professional skills and competence, and thus eroding the capacity of the state to promote rule of law, justice, equality and basic human rights of the people".Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of the Bangladesh chapter of Berlin-based Transparency International, blamed "growing partisan political influence on key institutions of democratic accountability". This, he said, was "undermining their professional skills and competence, and thus eroding the capacity of the state to promote rule of law, justice, equality and basic human rights of the people".
Among those recent missing are three student leaders from the BNP, while the body of a trade union organiser, apparently tortured, was found after he disappeared on 4 April. Two opposition activists, both members of an Islamic student organisation, disappeared in February. Among those recently missing are three student leaders from the BNP, while the body of a trade union organiser, apparently tortured, was found after he disappeared on 4 April. Two opposition activists, both members of an Islamic student organisation, disappeared in February.
Shafiq Ahmed, minister for law, justice and parliamentary affairs said that a full investigation was under way to locate all those who have disappeared and that allegations the government could be responsible in any way for abductions were motivated by "an interest to gain public attention". Shafiq Ahmed, minister for law, justice and parliamentary affairs, said a full investigation was under way to locate all those who have disappeared, and allegations that the government could be responsible in any way for abductions were motivated by "an interest to gain public attention".
The minister also rejected criticism of the government's economic record. "The economy [in Bangladesh] is better than many countries in the face of global economic depression," he said.The minister also rejected criticism of the government's economic record. "The economy [in Bangladesh] is better than many countries in the face of global economic depression," he said.