Bangladesh Arrests 10,000 In One Week In Anti-Crime Crackdown

DHAKA, Bangladesh — Bangladesh's military-led security forces said Wednesday they have detained more than 10,000 people in a nationwide anti-crime drive over the past week, but political parties accused the government of targeting their members in a political crackdown.

Police Chief Nur Mohammad said the special drive was launched last Friday to improve law and order before national elections planned late this year.

He said more than 1,700 people were detained in the past day, taking the number of detainees to more than 10,000.

The detainees have been accused of crimes such as murder, muggings and violation of emergency rules, Mohammad said.

He denied accusations from political parties that the drive was politically motivated and that many of the detainees are party members.

"We are not targeting political activists. We are after criminals who are disturbing law and order," Mohammad said.

Syed Ashraful Islam, spokesman for the Awami League, a key political party, said the government was "targeting political activists in the name of an anti-crime drive."

"This is not acceptable," he said.

Another major political group, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, also denounced the drive.

"The security forces have arrested thousands of our activists to prevent them from election-related activity," BNP spokesman Khandaker Delwar Hossain said. "They are filing fabricated charges against our activists."

Bangladesh has been run by a military-backed interim government since January 2007, when a state of emergency was declared following the deaths of more than 30 people in street protests demanding electoral reforms.

Since then, the government has arrested about 180 leading politicians, businesspeople and civil servants in an anti-corruption drive. Dozens have already been convicted of graft charges.

Impoverished Bangladesh has been listed as one of the world's most corrupt nations by the German-based corruption watchdog Transparency International.

Comments

[elbzee]

I find it odd that there are only 12 comments on this article. I arrived expecting page after page. How odd.

[scoobynooby]

Look and take notice Sheeple because its coming here in a year or two.

[punchmonkey]

THANXS, I WAS ABOUT TO SAY THE SAME, BUT I GIVE IT 6 MONTHS.......

[elbzee]

I'm not so sure we have that long.

[fact finder]

scoobynooby; Try this year in the coldest month's.

[jalapeno]

It's not too far fetched to happen here, we already have the largest prison population in the world.
Protesting elecion reforms, hmmm.

"Bangladesh has been run by a military-backed interim government since January 2007, when a state of emergency was declared following the deaths of more than 30 people in street protests demanding electoral reforms."

[punchmonkey]

AND PLEASE, LET YOU NOT FORGET TO CHECK YOUTUBE ON THE LARGE CONCENTRATION CAMPS ALREADY BUILT AND AWAITING OUR ARRIVAL!!!!

[fact finder]

Just wait until King George declares Martial law. 10,000 will not even begin to match the numbers here.

[MNCurler]

And hopefully you will be one of them. What an idiotic comment.

[elbzee]

Sure hope you don't regret those words MNCurler. Waaaaay too credible nowadays.

[fact finder]

MNCurler; you just got flagged for an abusive post. Have a nice day.

[esquire07]

10,000 in one week !!! After the next false flag Terrorist attack the arrests will beging in the United States. FAcism is on the way. America has a "decider," why does it need a new President.

The best way to "postpone" the election, nuclear bomb blast in an American city.... Bush knows it, Cheney knows it, and the criminals at the Pentagon and CIA that pulled off 9/11 know it.

The Military Industrial Complex will grow and become stronger... America will slowly rott and die from within. All Empires fall.