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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
By Steve Herman
New Delhi
04 June 2008
More than 10,000 people have been arrested in Bangladesh, the past week, as part of an ongoing1 crackdown by the government. Political activists2 are among those being jailed in what officials call a sweeping3 anti-crime campaign. VOA correspondent Steve Herman reports from our South Asia Bureau in New Delhi.
Vehicle laden4 with prisoners arrives at entrance to jail in Dhaka, 04 Jun 2008 |
Bangladeshi officials confirmed Wednesday that the number of people arrested in the latest crackdown has surpassed 10,000. Police say the campaign, which began May 28, will last a month. They say it is primarily targeted at smugglers, those with illegal weapons and others labeled as "miscreants5."
Authorities deny political activists are being targeted.
The country's two major political parties, the Awami League and the Bangladesh National Party, say their members are among those taken into custody6.
Dhaka University Professor Ataur Rahman, who is president of the Bangladesh Political Science Association, says the crackdown follows the two major parties' refusal to attend talks with the military-backed interim7 government.
"Since the political parties gave a warning that [they] will go for a movement against the government, as a consequence the government has taken this drive to really clear out hardcore political activists and some criminals, along with them, so that untoward8 happenings do not come in wake of this call by the political parties," said Rahman.
Authorities in Dhaka say the arrests will improve security ahead of scheduled December national elections.
However, analysts9 say elections will not be considered credible10 if boycotted11 by the Awami League and the BNP.
Sheikh Hasina (r) is surrounded by police officers as she leaves court (2007 File) |
At present, the parties officials say they will not discuss with the caretaker government their participation12 in the election unless their leaders are freed. Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia - both former prime ministers -- are in jail and facing trial on corruption13 charges.
Feuding14 between the two women, led to violent street demonstrations15 and political chaos16 in 2006. A caretaker government was then appointed by the president and backed by the army. For the last 17 months Bangladesh has been under a state of emergency.
1 ongoing | |
adj.进行中的,前进的 | |
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2 activists | |
n.(政治活动的)积极分子,活动家( activist的名词复数 ) | |
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3 sweeping | |
adj.范围广大的,一扫无遗的 | |
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4 laden | |
adj.装满了的;充满了的;负了重担的;苦恼的 | |
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5 miscreants | |
n.恶棍,歹徒( miscreant的名词复数 ) | |
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6 custody | |
n.监护,照看,羁押,拘留 | |
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7 interim | |
adj.暂时的,临时的;n.间歇,过渡期间 | |
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8 untoward | |
adj.不利的,不幸的,困难重重的 | |
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9 analysts | |
分析家,化验员( analyst的名词复数 ) | |
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10 credible | |
adj.可信任的,可靠的 | |
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11 boycotted | |
抵制,拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12 participation | |
n.参与,参加,分享 | |
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13 corruption | |
n.腐败,堕落,贪污 | |
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14 feuding | |
vi.长期不和(feud的现在分词形式) | |
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15 demonstrations | |
证明( demonstration的名词复数 ); 表明; 表达; 游行示威 | |
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16 chaos | |
n.混乱,无秩序 | |
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