VOA常速英语2007-Bangladesh Government Rules Out Dialogue With Po

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
22 October 2007

In Bangladesh, the interim¹ government has ruled out the possibility of a dialogue with political parties. But as Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, political parties have welcomed a renewed pledge by the country's army chief to stay out of politics.

The Bangladesh law adviser² Mainul Hosein told private television that the emergency caretaker government would not hold talks with political parties because this could affect the administration's neutral credentials³.

He was responding to a proposal by the Awami League Party for direct discussions with the government to resolve "political issues."

Instead the interim government wants political parties to have a dialogue with the Election Commission, which plans to conduct polls by end of 2008.

A professor of political science at Dhaka University, Ataur Rahman, says the government wants to stay away from any direct dealings with the country's two main political alliances because their history of bitter relations would create new conflicts.

"Then what will happen is that there will be a controversy⁴ and also there will be allegations and counter allegations particularly when the politics in Bangladesh is so controversial, and the power struggle is so intense that sometimes the caretaker government may be misunderstood, and that may lead to more problems in peaceful transition of power," said Rahman.

The army-backed interim government took over in January after elections were canceled following months of political discord⁵. It has promised to restore democracy by the end of next year.

There has been concern that the army may grab power in a country that has been ruled by the military for 15 years.

However, recent assertions by army chief General Moeen U. Ahmed that he has no intention to enter politics have reassured⁶ political parties.

The general said last week during a visit to Britain and the United States that the army is only helping⁷ the interim government fight corruption⁸ and organize free and fair elections.

Dhaka University's Rahman says it is difficult to say what will happen in the coming months, but so far it appears that the army will allow democracy to return.

"I think the military is trying not to be involved as far as possible. As far as I can say now, the military has no intention to play a direct role, other than what they are already playing in Bangladesh politics," added Rahman.

 

There have been a string of military coups⁹ in Bangladesh since it became independent in 1971.

1 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。

2 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

3 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。

4 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

5 discord   

n.不和，意见不合，争论，（音乐）不和谐

参考例句：

• These two answers are in discord.这两个答案不一样。
• The discord of his music was hard on the ear.他演奏的不和谐音很刺耳。

6 reassured   

adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

8 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。

9 coups   

n.意外而成功的行动( coup的名词复数 )；政变；努力办到难办的事

参考例句：

• China has seen many political coups within the ruling class. 中国统治阶级内部发生过很多政变。 来自互联网
• Thailand has had eighteen coups or coup attendance since nineteen thirty-two. 泰国1932年以来有18次政变或参加政变。 来自互联网