VOA标准英语2008年-Sheikh Hasina Leaves Bangladesh

By Steve Herman
New Delhi
12 June 2008

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has left her country for the United States, for medical treatment. Her parole, amid her pending¹ corruption² trials, has broken a political gridlock that threatened planned national elections, this year. From our South Asia Bureau in New Delhi, VOA correspondent Steve Herman has this report.
　

Former Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka, 11 Jun 2008

One of two embattled former prime ministers of Bangladesh has left the country. Sheikh Hasina flew out of Dhaka, Thursday, a day after the army-backed caretaker government granted her an eight-week release. Hasina is to undergo medical treatment in the United States for hearing damage she suffered during a 2004 assassination³ attempt.

Prosecutors⁴ say legal proceedings⁵ against her - mainly dealing⁶ with alleged⁷ corruption - will continue in her absence. The Awami League is the largest political party in Bangladesh and Hasina, the daughter of the country's founding leader, is its matriarch and dominant⁸ figure. Former Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed says the party will be able to function effectively while she is out of Bangladesh.
　

Former commerce minister Tofail Ahmed, Bangladesh Awami League (file photo)

"In her absence, the main leadership of the Awami League's decision-making body, presidium, of which I am also a member, will decide jointly⁹. And, definitely, wherever Sheikh Hasina stays we'll try our best to take her advice, to take her decision. I think the party will be conducted very nicely. It will not be any problem," said Tofail Ahmed.

Before her departure, Ms. Hasina is said to have spoken on the telephone for 30 minutes with the head of the caretaker government, Fakhruddin Ahmed. A government adviser¹⁰ told reporters that the interim¹¹ leadership is now engaged in a "formal dialog" with the Awami League to pave the way for elections.

Hasina's rival and two-time former Prime Minister the head of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, remains¹² in jail on graft¹³ charges. She has refused a similar offer to be granted parole for treatment of her medical ailments¹⁴, if she would go overseas.
　

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia waves to supporters after she was arrested in Dhaka, Bangladesh (2007 File)

Some political analysts¹⁵ suspect the interim government wants to keep the two women, known as the "battling Begums" out of Bangladesh until after December elections for parliament. Ministers of the emergency government, backed by the army, have said they want to depart by the end of the year and hand over power to successors selected as a result of democratic elections.

Chaos¹⁶ and street violence in 2006, blamed on the followers¹⁷ of the two major political parties, led to a state of emergency and prompted the military to give its blessing¹⁸ to an extended tenure¹⁹ for the caretaker leadership.

1 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

2 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。

3 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

4 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

5 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

6 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

7 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

8 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

9 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。

10 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。

11 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。

12 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

13 graft   

n.移植，嫁接，艰苦工作，贪污；v.移植，嫁接

参考例句：

• I am having a skin graft on my arm soon.我马上就要接受手臂的皮肤移植手术。
• The minister became rich through graft.这位部长透过贪污受贿致富。

14 ailments   

疾病（尤指慢性病），不适( ailment的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His ailments include a mild heart attack and arthritis. 他患有轻度心脏病和关节炎。
• He hospitalizes patients for minor ailments. 他把只有小病的患者也送进医院。

15 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

16 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。

17 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

18 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

19 tenure   

n.终身职位；任期；(土地)保有权，保有期

参考例句：

• He remained popular throughout his tenure of the office of mayor.他在担任市长的整个任期内都深得民心。
• Land tenure is a leading political issue in many parts of the world.土地的保有权在世界很多地区是主要的政治问题。