Protests planned against Powell’s Bangladesh visit

DHAKA: Several Leftist and Islamic parties were planning demonstrations against US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s visit to Bangladesh this week.

“We will not welcome anyone who has fought an unjust war against Iraq and committed crime against humanity,” the Communist Party of Bangladesh said in a press statement on Monday.

Similar objections have been raised by the Bangladesh Workers Party, Islamic Constitution Movement, Democratic Revolutionary Alliance, Progressive Student Alliance and Jatiya Hafeez Parishad. None of the parties have any representation in the country’s 300-member Parliament.

The groups plan to demonstrate in central Dhaka on Wednesday and Thursday against Powell’s four-hour visit. Powell was scheduled to visit on Thursday to discuss reconstruction work in Iraq, the Israel-Palestinian conflict and bilateral relations, Bangladeshi officials said. He was scheduled meet with Bangladeshi leaders, including Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Bangladesh wants to take part in the rebuilding of Iraq but under UN supervision.

Powell will travel to Dhaka after attending the annual security forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Cambodia. He will leave Bangladesh on Thursday for Jordan to attend a World Economic Forum meeting. —PTI

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