DHAKA, 27 March 2007 — Bangladesh staged an impressive military parade yesterday to mark the anniversary of its independence but barred political parties from holding their own ceremonies. Jubilation and enthusiasm were, however, witnessed as the Independence Day celebrations coincided with the national cricket team’s victory against Bermuda.
President Iajuddin Ahmed and the head of the interim government, Fakhruddin Ahmed, took the salute at the parade in the capital, Dhaka. They were flanked by the army, navy and air force chiefs. But the politicians who usually occupy front seats at the parade ground were absent.
Hasina Wajed, one of two feuding former prime ministers, was away in the United States but Khaleda Zia was at her home in the capital. Police had told Khaleda, whose five-year term in office ended in October, not to venture out for security reasons. Media said police had told her she could be targeted by militants.
Bangladesh is set to hang six top militants, including Shaikh Abdur Rahman and Siddikul Islam Bangla Bhai, following their convictions for masterminding and participating in countrywide bomb attacks in 2005, killing 30 people and wounding 150. Police said they would be hanged some time in April. All political activities in Bangladesh have been banned under a state of emergency since Jan. 11.
Khaleda was barred from making her regular Independence Day visit with leaders of her Bangladesh Nationalist Party to the national memorial for independence war martyrs at Savar, near the capital.
Officials of Hasina’s Awami League were prevented from holding a meeting at the graveside of Hasina’s father, independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in his western hometown of Gopalganj.
