2007年VOA标准英语-Former Prime Minister Charged in Bangladesh Kil

By Steve Herman
New Delhi
11 April 2007

Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is one of 56 political leaders in Bangladesh now facing charges for the deaths of several people during political street campaigns last year. The move is the latest by authorities in the country, now under control of the military, against the two major rival political parties. VOA's Steve Herman reports from our bureau in New Delhi.

Bangladesh's former Prime Minister and 14-party alliance leader, Sheikh Hasina (Jan 2007)

The leader of Bangladesh's main opposition¹ party, Sheikh Hasina, has been charged with murder. Police on Wednesday accused the former prime minister and 55 others in connection with the deaths of at least four people last October.

Police say senior leaders of Ms. Hasina's 14-party alliance are among those facing murder charges because open rioting resulted in fatalities². Also charged are 10 leaders of the rival Jamaat-e-Islami party, including chief Matiur Rahman Nizami.

The general secretary of Hasina's Awami League, Abdul Jalil, says while charges were expected in connection with the riot, the murder complaint against Sheikh Hasina comes as a surprise.

"The name of Sheikh Hasina was not there," said Jalil. "When the charges were submitted her name has been included as one of the accused."

Hasina is on vacation in the United States, but had been expected to return to Bangladesh next week to answer authorities' questions about allegations she had extorted³ more than $400,000 while in power.

The Awami Leagues's Jalil says the new murder charges will not prevent her return.

"She belongs to this country and her father is the father of the nation. Why should she stay outside Bangladesh? She'll definitely come to Bangladesh and she will fight it legally," he said.

Ms. Hasina is the eldest⁴ child of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the nationalist leader who was the first president of Bangladesh.

Ms. Hasina's bitter foe⁵, Begum Khaleda Zia, is under virtual house arrest. Ms. Zia's term as prime minister ended in October. Her eldest son and political heir apparent has been arrested on charges of extortion and abuse of power.

In all, about 160 senior politicians have been rounded up to face corruption⁶ charges since the military-backed interim⁷ government imposed a state of emergency in mid-January.

1 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。

2 fatalities   

n.恶性事故( fatality的名词复数 )；死亡；致命性；命运

参考例句：

• Several people were injured, but there were no fatalities. 有几个人受伤，但没有人死亡。
• The accident resulted in fatalities. 那宗意外道致多人死亡。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 extorted   

v.敲诈( extort的过去式和过去分词 )；曲解

参考例句：

• The gang extorted money from over 30 local businesses. 这帮歹徒向当地30多户商家勒索过钱财。
• He extorted a promise from me. 他硬要我答应。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 eldest   

adj.最年长的，最年老的

参考例句：

• The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne.国王的长子是王位的继承人。
• The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son.城堡和土地限定由长子继承。

5 foe   

n.敌人，仇敌

参考例句：

• He knew that Karl could be an implacable foe.他明白卡尔可能会成为他的死敌。
• A friend is a friend;a foe is a foe;one must be clearly distinguished from the other.敌是敌，友是友，必须分清界限。

6 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。

7 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。