INTERNATIONAL WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015 Bangladesh’s Khaleda Zia faces murder charge threat DHAKA: Bangladesh authorities yesterday threat- ened to bring murder charges against besieged opposition leader Khaleda Zia and arrested her deputy over accusations that they incited a nation- wide wave of deadly violence. A day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accused Zia of trying to trigger anarchy, a minister said her arch rival should expect a murder charge over an arson attack which left three people fight- ing for their lives. The threat, which comes after four activists from Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party were killed in the mounting unrest Monday, was made while the opposition leader remained confined to her offices in Dhaka, barred from leav- ing by police. The three people injured in the alleged BNP attack in Dhaka last week were in an autorickshaw that was firebombed by protestors-a frequent tac- tic of BNP hardliners who are trying to topple the prime minister. “She should prepare for a murder case,” Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said in comments that will do little to ease tensions in the volatile South Asian nation, a year on from Hasina’s controversial re-election. Confined and padlocked in her office in a up market Dhaka district, Zia on Monday called a nationwide non-stop transport blockade in an effort to topple the government and pave the way for inclusive polls. As supporters took to the streets DHAKA: Burning vehicles, set on fire by opposition demonstrators, are pictured during violent protests to clash with officers, police arrested BNP secretary in Dhaka yesterday. (inset) Bangladesh’s main opposition leader and Bangladesh Nationalist Party general Fakhrul Islam Alamgir over a series of vio- (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia attends a rally in Dhaka. — AFP lent protests by supporters. “He was arrested on charges of arson, bombings In another sign of the government’s determina- Poisonous relationship managed to scale the walls of her compound, Zia and vandalism,” Shiblee Noman, assistant commis- tion to silence critics, a private television network Hasina and Zia, who have between them ruled accused her rival of trying to cling to power by sioner of Dhaka police, said. Alamgir, the party’s was forced off air and its chairman arrested a day Bangladesh for most of the last three decades, have force in a country that has seen more than a dozen defacto number two, had been holed up in the after broadcasting a speech from London by Zia’s a notoriously poisonous relationship and frequent- coups in its 43-year history. In an address to the national press club since Monday but was arrested exiled son. While police said the detention of the ly exchange insults and barbs about each others’ nation on Monday night, a defiant Hasina laid the as he tried to drive away from the building, accord- ETV chairman was prompted by its airing of families. Ties hit a new low after the BNP and 19 blame for the latest unrest firmly at Zia’s feet. ing to an AFP journalist at the scene. “pornographic” material, a senior editor at the other opposition parties boycotted last year’s elec- “I am urging the BNP leader to stop these bomb Minutes before his arrest, Alamgir had channel dismissed the official explanation as a tions, claiming the contest would be rigged. and grenade attacks, these acts of sabotage, and denounced Hasina’s government and renewed calls smokescreen. Awami League party leader Hasina, who has killings, of arson and damage to property,” Hasina to enforce a nationwide transport blockade. “This Zia’s eldest son Tarique Rahman, who has been been in power since 2009, refused their demands said. Although there were no reports of deadly vio- unelected government .. has turned the country living in exile since 2008, is seen as his mother’s for the polls to be organized by a neutral caretaker lence yesterday, police said they had fired rubber into a prison,” he said. Police have virtually sealed heir apparent. He has become a particular bane of government as with previous elections. Zia has bullets and tear gas at scores of BNP supporters off all the exit gates of the press club in central the government after claiming that Hasina’s father- been a virtual prisoner since Saturday, with the when they tried to mount a transport blockade Dhaka since Monday afternoon after Alamgir spoke who is widely regarded as the hero of Bangladesh’s gates of her compound padlocked and a phalanx outside the capital. Two police officers were injured at a rally of a group of journalists, lawyers and other 1971 independence war from Pakistan-was in fact a of riot police posted outside. during clashes with Islamists, who are part of Zia’s professionals. stooge of Islamabad. In brief comments Monday to reporters who cadre of opposition parties. — AFP Wife of former Indian UN diplomat was ‘murdered’ Delhi police say Tharoor’s wife’s not committed suicide NEW DELHI: The wife of a former high-flying UN “stunned” to hear his wife’s death was being to replace him as secretary-general in 2008. After diplomat and Indian government minister was treated as murder. “All I want is that a compre- being beaten to the post by Ban Ki-moon, he murdered and did not commit suicide as earlier hensive investigation be conducted and that the then entered Indian politics as a member of par- suspected, Delhi’s police chief said yesterday. unvarnished truth should come out,” said the 58- liament for the southern state of Kerala. Tharoor Sunanda Pushkar was found dead in her five-star year-old. had to resign from his first ministerial post in 2010 hotel room in the capital last January, two days Also an acclaimed author, Tharoor served as after revelations that his then-girlfriend Pushkar after she alleged on Twitter that her husband under-secretary general during Kofi Annan’s lead- had been given a free stake in a new Indian Shashi Tharoor had been having an affair with a ership of the United Nations and was a candidate Premier League cricket team. — AFP Pakistani journalist. Pushkar, married to Tharoor since 2010, had been taking medication for various illnesses and early autopsy results suggested she may have overdosed on anti-depressants and sleeping ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani paramilitary soldier stands guard at the main entrance of National pills. Assembly building as the assembly met yesterday. — AP But speaking to reporters yesterday, Delhi Police Commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi said new Pakistan legislators approve medical reports had led investigators to register a case of murder “against unknown persons”. military courts for terrorism “We have registered a case of murder,” Bassi said in the capital. “The report given to the Delhi ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s lower house of par- their resignations are pending with the Police by the medical board says that her death liament yesterday approved the establish- speaker. He alleges that last year’s general was unnatural and it was because of poisoning. ment of military courts to hear terrorism- election which brought Sharif back to power “The poison could have been administered related cases, after a Taleban massacre at a was rigged. Apart from the religious parties, orally or could also have injected, so keeping all military-run school in the northwest shocked some moderate political parties and mem- these factors in mind, the case has been regis- the nation. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had bers of the intelligentsia have criticized the tered.” The discovery of Pushkar’s body triggered announced the plan after militants gunned military courts plan. intense speculation that she had committed sui- down 134 children and 16 adults at the The leading English-language newspaper cide after being humiliated by her husband. Her Peshawar school last month. He also ended a Dawn termed it a “sad day” in an editorial yes- death dealt a severe blow to the image of six-year moratorium on the death penalty in terday. Tharoor who was a cabinet minister at the time terror cases, and several people have since It accused political leaders of being unable and remains a member of parliament for the gone to the gallows. Members of the main to defend the country’s constitutional and Congress party which lost elections last May last. NEW DELHI: Former minister of State for External Affairs and Congress Party’s MP Shashi Tharoor opposition joined the ruling party yesterday democratic roots or resist the “generals’ In remarks carried by several media outlets, (right) and his wife Sunanda Pushkar arrive at parliament in New Delhi. The wife of Tharoor was mur- to pass the measure, which now goes to the demands”. “Yes, we need a coherent strategy Tharoor was quoted Thursday as saying he was dered and did not commit suicide as earlier suspected, Delhi’s police chief said yesterday. — AFP upper house. to fight militancy and political and military “The bitter pill of this new law is being leaders to work together. But military courts swallowed for the security of Pakistan,” said are not the answer,” Dawn said. Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, opposition Hunt for suspects Thousands flee homes in leader in the lower house. Soldiers killed The measure was approved after 247 legis- In the country’s largest city Karachi yester- after gang-rape lators-more than a two-thirds majority-voted day, two paramilitary soldiers were killed and Kashmir to escape firing to amend the constitution to allow for mili- a passer-by injured during a raid on a hideout in India govt office tary courts to be set up. Members of the of Taleban militants.