The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The country completes one year under non-party Caretaker Government's rule today.

However, eventful the year experienced two successive Caretaker Governments, as the first non-party administration collapsed on January 11 against the backdrop of its failure to contain widespread political violence that pushed the nation to the brink of a civil war.The first Caretaker Government headed by President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed was formed on October 29, 2006, a day after the BNP-led four-party alliance government completed its five-year tenure.

The day (October 28) witnessed unprecedented political confrontations between the supporters of four-party alliance and Awami League (AL)-led grand alliance in the capital and elsewhere in the country.

Supporters of rival political camps were seen dancing on the bodies of political activists killed by both the sides at Purana Paltan of Dhaka on the day in broad daylight that triggered global protests and tarnished the country's image abroad.

Situation started to deteriorate everyday, when the then Caretaker Government and Election Commission was going ahead with holding of the general elections on January 22, which was boycotted by the AL-led political alliance.

As many as 55 political activists were killed and hundreds of others injured throughout the country as confrontations between the rival political camps engulfed the whole nation.

International communities, donor countries and agencies and the United Nations called for restrain but to no avail.

At one stage, United Nation's Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, in a public statement, urged Bangladesh Army to intervene and save the country from plunging into anarchy.

The Armed Forces led by Bangladesh Army intervened on January 11, when the President dissolved his interim administration and appointed Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed as Chief Adviser to a new Caretaker Government. The President also proclaimed state of emergency to tackle the situation.

All the 10 Advisers to the Caretaker Government took oath of office on the following day.

The new Army-backed Government, during the last nine months, reorganised the Election Commission and Anti-Corruption Commission, separated Judiciary from the Executive, launched campaign against corruption and announced an election roadmap, which envisioned holding the general elections within December 2008.