2006年VOA标准英语-Bangladesh President Sworn In as Head of Careta

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
29 October 2006
 
In Bangladesh, the president has been sworn in as head of the country's interim¹ government, after main political parties failed to agree on a candidate.  But it is uncertain if the appointment will calm political tensions in the country, where disagreement on the issue has sparked deadly clashes that have killed 22 people and injured hundreds in recent days.

-----

President Iajuddin Ahmed is sworn in as head of caretaker government, Oct. 29, 2006

President Iajuddin Ahmed was sworn in as head of an interim government during a brief, televised ceremony held at the presidential palace in Dhaka. Diplomats² and senior officials attended the function, but the opposition³ Awami League party stayed away.

President Ahmed takes over the reins⁴ of government from Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to oversee⁵ elections in January. He took the office after talks with political parties failed to produce a consensus⁶ on who should take the post. It is an issue that has fueled deep political tensions, and sparked deadly clashes in the country.

The earlier candidate chosen by the government to take the job stepped aside Saturday, after strong protests by opposition parties, which said he was biased⁷ in favor of the ruling party, and could not ensure fair polls.

The former ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party has endorsed⁸ the president's decision to take charge of the interim government, saying he has acted in accordance with the constitution.

But the Awami League has opposed President Ahmed's takeover, and says he has violated the constitution by appointing himself for the job.

Political observers say it is likely that the opposition will press ahead with a program of protests and strikes that it had planned if a candidate that they support is not appointed.

The protests have gripped Dhaka since Friday, when Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's five-year term ended. More than 20 people have been killed in the street clashes and demonstrations⁹ held by opposition activists¹⁰ across the country, despite tight security.

The caretaker government system aims to prevent ruling parties from rigging polls by appointing a neutral, non-party administration to supervise them. But, this time, the transition has become the center of a political storm.

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 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 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。

4 reins   

感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带

参考例句：

• She pulled gently on the reins. 她轻轻地拉着缰绳。
• The government has imposed strict reins on the import of luxury goods. 政府对奢侈品的进口有严格的控制手段。

5 oversee   

vt.监督，管理

参考例句：

• Soldiers oversee the food handouts.士兵们看管着救济食品。
• Use a surveyor or architect to oversee and inspect the different stages of the work.请一位房产检视员或建筑师来监督并检查不同阶段的工作。

6 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

7 biased   

a.有偏见的

参考例句：

• a school biased towards music and art 一所偏重音乐和艺术的学校
• The Methods: They employed were heavily biased in the gentry's favour. 他们采用的方法严重偏袒中上阶级。

8 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

10 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》