Thursday november 16, after four days of isolation, the bengali capital Dhaka could re-establish contact with the rest of the world: the port and the highways have been opened again, while life tries to flow reguarly as usual. The coalition of opposition parties, that last sunday called for a total blockade of transportation and communications media, has conceded the town a few days of truce. But the ultimatum to the government is only posponed. If their requests for 'fair and just' elections are not met - the leader of the protest has declared - the blockade will take place again on monday. Since last Sunday at least three people have died and dozens have been injured in conflicts between demonstrators and police.  

Awaiting the Elections.  Since 2001 the nation has been governed by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), a conservative military alliance allied with Jamaatt-e-Islami, the largest Islamist party in the country. The government’s mandate and that of Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia expired on October 27, and the nation should be going to the polls in January of 2007 to elect a new executive. But the road to elections is bumpy with arguments. At the end of its mandate the government designated an interim executive, former justice of the Supreme Court K.M. Hasan, to organize the January election.  But the opposition--a coalition of 14 parties on the left headed by the Awami League and its leader, Sheikh Hasina--rushed to oppose the decision.  The pro-government stance of Hassan, according to the Awami League, renders him unsuitable for the role assigned to him, that is, organizing the elections in a just and impartial way.  Opposition  protests grew into violent encounters on the streets between demonstrators and police.  In five days, beginning on October 27, at least 25 people died and hundreds were injured.  The interim mandate was then assumed by the President of Bangladesh, Iajuddin Ahmed, but the problems have not disappeared.  

Blood and Barricades.  At the beginning of November the leader of the Awami League issued eleven requests to the government.  According to Sheikh Hasina these requests were made to insure the impartiality of the vote.  Among other demands, the largest opposition party asked for a complete overhaul of the voter lists, which had been inflated, they allege, with tens of millions of non-existent voters.  They also asked for removal from positions of power of all officials who are party members of the BNP, and they wanted portraits of the out-going Prime Minister to be removed from all public buildings.  But the Awami League’s principal request was complete reorganization of the Electoral Commission and dismissal of the current director, M.A. Aziz.  They issued an ultimatum to the government:  If their demands were not met by November 12th, the Awami League would organize a complete blockade of all transportation and communication.  And so they did. 

Since last Sunday Dhaka has been isolated from the rest of the nation.  Protestors have blockaded the streets approaching the city and blocked railroads and other means of public transport, setting fire to buses and cars.  Police tried to break up the protests on Monday, and in ensuing conflicts two people died and an estimated 100 were wounded.  Most of the schools, factories and shops of the capital are shuttered.  President Ahmed threatened to call out the army to patrol the streets and stop the protest.  But he quickly backed off this threat because of opposition from officers of the armed forces and the president’s own national security  counselors.  In the meantime, the barricades are still up.  Sheik Hasina has appealed to the people, “Be patient a few more days.  They will have to meet our demands.”