2006年VOA标准英语-Bangladesh Ruling Party Faces Defections Ahead

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
26 October 2006
 
In Bangladesh, the ruling party has been hit by political defections just as it gets ready to hand over power to a caretaker administration ahead of national elections. The ruling party is also locked in a bitter confrontation¹ with the main opposition² party.

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Former president Badruddoza Chowdhury waves to cheering supporters after the announcement of the formation of the Liberal Democratic Party, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006
  
More than a score of politicians including several lawmakers defected from the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party Thursday and launched a new party, after accusing the government of widespread corruption³.

The newly formed Liberal Democratic Party includes senior leaders of the ruling party and three former ministers. Oli Ahmed, a leader of the breakaway group, says the new party will challenge the two main parties that have dominated Bangladesh's political landscape.

The desertions came a day before Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was due to hand over power to a caretaker administration at the end of her five-year term. Under Bangladesh's constitution, an interim⁴ government will take charge of the country and hold elections within three months.

An independent political analyst⁵ in Dhaka, Ataus Samad, calls the new party "a fringe group," but says it could adversely⁶ affect the re-election chances of the Bangladesh National Party, or the BNP, as it is popularly known in Bangladesh.

"We have to see how much support they get, but the point is that the amount of support they will be able to take away from BNP threatens BNP's election prospects," he said.

The defections are not the only political problem confronting the BNP. It is also locked in a bitter confrontation with the main opposition Awami League over how the forthcoming polls should be organized, and who should head the new caretaker government. 

Bangladesh opposition activists⁷ walk towards the headquarters during a protest in Dhaka, May 9, 2006   
  
The Awami League is unhappy over the government's choice of a former chief justice, K.M. Hasan, as head of the interim administration. The opposition calls Hasan a "ruling party" stooge and says it cannot expect a government headed by him to hold free and fair elections.

The two sides held several rounds of talks this month on the issue, but failed to reach a consensus⁸.

The Awami League has already called on its supporters to join massive street demonstrations⁹ if the government goes ahead and appoints Hasan, raising fears that Bangladesh may be headed for days of violent political protests.

1 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

2 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

3 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

4 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

5 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

6 adversely   

ad.有害地

参考例句：

• We commented adversely upon the imbecility of that message of telegraphic style. 我们对着这条电报式的愚蠢的留言发泄了一通不满。
• Widely fluctuating exchange rates may adversely affect international trade. 浮动幅度很大的汇率可能会对国际贸易产生有害的影响。

7 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

9 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。