voa标准英语2008-Bangladesh Lifts 23-Month State of Emergency

The interim¹ government of Bangladesh has lifted the state of emergency. That clears the way for campaigning on the streets, ahead of this month's national election. It is hoped the polls will lead to the restoration of stable democratic governance in one of Asia's poorest and most-corrupt countries.

Bangladeshi government officials have confirmed emergency provisions have been lifted, after being in effect for nearly two years.

The move by the army-backed interim government allows less than two weeks of political campaigning and rallies, ahead of the December 29 election.

The executive director of Transparency International in Bangladesh, Iftekhar Zaman, is hailing the move.

"This is an important step," said Zaman. "We always wanted that the elections should be held in a condition where people can take part freely and fairly with enthusiasm and without any threats or intimidation² to anybody."

Army troops, augmenting³ police and para-military forces, will be providing extra security, beginning later this week through election day, attempting to ensure violence-free campaigning and polling. That would be a change from most recent elections, when the fierce rivalry⁴ between the Awami League and the Bangladesh National Party has led to bloodshed.

A new electoral code has been put in place and a national list of voters has been compiled. For the first time, Bangladesh will be using an electronic voting system.

Zaman says these innovations raise hopes for a smooth election.

"In general, I would expect that the elections will be sufficiently⁵ free and free. But we don't know, because in Bangladesh things can change in a few hours or a few days," added Zaman. "We will have our fingers crossed and expect that things will go smoothly⁶."

Bangladesh, since gaining independence from Pakistan in 1971, has gone through a series of coups⁷ and counter-coups.

The interim government, with the backing of the military, has been in power since January, 2007, following a period of political turmoil⁸.

The leaders of the two main rival parties rotated as heads of government during a 15-year period, through 2006. Both women - former prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia - were among the politicians arrested during the period of emergency rule and charged with corruption⁹. Their release from jail and the lifting of the emergency were pre-conditions by their parties for participating in the election.

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 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

3 augmenting   

使扩张

参考例句：

• My business was now constantly augmenting, and my circumstances growing daily easier. 现在，我的业务不断扩大，我的境况日益安逸。
• I spent a penitential weekend augmenting the green acceptable. 我临时唯有利用周末在每顶绿帽子上加一点红色上去，以免男性来宾不肯戴上。

4 rivalry   

n.竞争，竞赛，对抗

参考例句：

• The quarrel originated in rivalry between the two families.这次争吵是两家不和引起的。
• He had a lot of rivalry with his brothers and sisters.他和兄弟姐妹间经常较劲。

5 sufficiently   

adv.足够地，充分地

参考例句：

• It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently.原来他没有给房屋投足保险。
• The new policy was sufficiently elastic to accommodate both views.新政策充分灵活地适用两种观点。

6 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

7 coups   

n.意外而成功的行动( coup的名词复数 )；政变；努力办到难办的事

参考例句：

• China has seen many political coups within the ruling class. 中国统治阶级内部发生过很多政变。 来自互联网
• Thailand has had eighteen coups or coup attendance since nineteen thirty-two. 泰国1932年以来有18次政变或参加政变。 来自互联网

8 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

9 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。