ANNEX C
BACKGROUND
1. A state of emergency was declared in Bangladesh with
effect from 21.00 hours on 27 November. An indefinite
curfew was imposed in Dhaka and other main centres the same
evening. These developments were triggered by a series of violent anti-governmnet demonstrations in which university
students have been to the fore. The leader of one of the
main opposition parties Sheikh Hasina of the Awami
League has been placed under house arrest and other
prominent opposition figures have gone to ground. On 28 November international telecommunications links were cut by
the Bangladeshi authorities. These have now been restored.
2. Latest reports indicate that although demonstrations
have continued, the authorities are working to ease the
curfew. There are unconfirmed reports of 20 people dead.
The disturbances appear to be confined to the capital and other principal towns. Elsewhere in the country the
situation appears to be more peaceful. There are no reports
of any British citizens in difficulties.
3.
There is a CPA visit currently in progress (23-30
November) by six members of the UK Branch: Mr Norman
Miscampbell, Mrs Edwina Currie, Mr Max Madden, Mr Chris
Butler, Mr Harry Cohen and Baroness Strange. They are safe and well. Their programme has continued. The delegation and the High Commissioner called on President Ershad today
when they raised concerns about the situation. Ershad
referred to politically active students as the main instigators of trouble, and believed there would be an early return to normality. The CPA delegates said the situation inevitably had implications for levels of foreign aid for
donors who looked for criteria of good government in
recipients.
4.
Bangladesh currently receives the third largest slice of
British bilateral aid. This amounted to some £53 million in
1989/90.
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