Government moved against heads of country’s 2 leading parties. Awami League’s Sheikh Hasina arrested 16 July, charged with extortion 24 July. BNP’s Khaleda Zia, PM until October 2006, due in court 26 August on charges of tax evasion. Election Commission published roadmap for elections by end 2008; state of emergency continues.

Government announced 3-week overhaul of electoral registry: photographs and fingerprints to be collected for all eligible voters in effort to block fraud. Former minister Amanullah Aman sentenced to 3 years on corruption charges in first major sentencing. Former PM Sheikh Hasina barred twice from leaving country as she continues to face corruption charges, as does former PM Khaleda Zia. Both deny all charges.

Awami League (AL) head Sheikh Hasina returned to Dhaka from London 7 May after caretaker government’s efforts to exile her failed. Former PM and BNP President Khaleda Zia also resisted pressure to leave country. Ban on all political activity remains in place. Crackdown on corruption continued with arrests of senior politicians, including AL secretary general and BNP figures such as former interior minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury. Government asked for army’s help in cleaning up voter registration list, with reported 12 million duplicate or fake names, ahead of elections now pledged by end 2008, but Election Commission still unclear on process. 2006 Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus dropped plans to form new political party, citing poor public response. Army chief insisted that army not interested in involvement in politics and had already withdrawn from many local bases established in January emergency.

Interim government crackdown on alleged corruption reached highest levels of political elite. Former PM and head of Awami League Sheikh Hasina charged with murder but allowed to return from holiday after initial attempt to force exile. BNP leader Khaleda Zia resisted pressure to take exile in Saudi Arabia. Over 100,000 reported arrested since January, 79 reported killed in custody. 3 bombs detonated 1 May at train stations in major cities, group called “new al Qaeda” claimed responsibility. Army chief General Ahmed made 2 April speech calling for “own brand of democracy”, blasting decades-long failure of political parties. World Bank released $200m in withheld funds in sign of support for interim government.

Army moved to formalise role in caretaker administration as crackdown on corruption continued with no new date set for postponed January general election. New polls not expected before 2008; emergency rule continues. Government announced reconstitution of National Security Council, defunct since return to democratic rule in 1991. Senior BNP official and son of ex-PM Khaleda Zia arrested 8 March for corruption. 6 members of Islamist group JMB hanged 30 March for alleged role in 2005 murder of 2 judges.

New caretaker administration launched campaign to purge corruption from politics ahead of postponed January elections, but no new date set. Dozens arrested, including former ministers from both parties: those convicted will be barred from future office. Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus launched new Nagarik Shakti party 22 February to bid for power in next election. Government announced plans for tough new anti-terrorism legislation.

Elections scheduled for 22 January postponed indefinitely after poll-related violence continued early in month, UN withdrew technical assistance, and U.S. and EU indicated they would not recognise polls as free and fair. President Iajuddin Ahmed resigned as head of caretaker government 11 January, declaring state of emergency with night-time curfews and some rights suspended. Former central bank governor Fakhruddin Ahmed took over, promising fair polls as soon as possible, but High Court decision 29 January blocked polls until voter registration system overhauled. 5 election commissioners resigned 31 January, allowing commission’s reconstitution and smoothing path to reform. Street violence ebbed, but arrest of over 3,000 and reports that up to 20 may have died in custody raised new concerns about military role.

Continued uncertainty as violence escalated ahead of 22 January elections. Street violence rocked Dhaka and other parts of the country with at least 45 killed in 6 weeks of protests and series of strikes called by opposition alliance Awami League (AL) in protest of alleged bias of interim caretaker administration. President Iajuddin Ahmed deployed army 10 December to help quell violence. Prospects for functional all-party polls improved 24 December when AL stepped back from planned boycott after interim government agreed to scrap flawed voter list and send election commissioner SM Zakaria on leave. But AL leader Sheikh Hasina continued to demand ouster of Ahmed and promised further protests 7-8 January, threatening possibility of boycott renewal. AL also signed controversial agreement with radical Islamic party Khelafat Majlish party 24 December, saying it would legalise fatwas.

Major new violence feared, as country steeped in political crisis with opposition to interim caretaker administration installed ahead of January elections. Opposition Awami League (AL) launched 3-day national transport blockade 12 November, citing interim administration’s failure to prove its neutrality. Chief Election Commissioner M.A. Aziz stepped down 22 November after renewed blockade accompanied by widespread violence between opposition and government supporters. UN sent electoral assistance envoy 29 November. But AL protests continued, with end of month Dhaka rallies calling for resignation of president and head of interim administration Iajuddin Ahmed, while ruling BNP accused AL of trying to destroy democracy.

Appointment of interim caretaker administration, required by constitution to rule in lead-up to January elections, marked by violent protests and uncertainty. Talks between ruling BNP and opposition Awami League failed to yield progress on Awami demands for electoral reform and neutral head of interim government. Over 20 killed in Awami-led protests in capital 28 October; BNP leaders threatened “tit-for-tat” street action. President Iajuddin Ahmed intervened, assuming head post 29 October after BNP nominee K.M. Hasan refused. Opposition continues to demand replacement of election commissioner and boycotted swearing-in, believing Ahmed partial to BNP.