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TV Large crowd at political rally listening to Sheikha Hasina Wazid, daughter of late president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (2 shots)
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TV Supporters arrive with banners (2 shots)
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SV Sheikha Hasina waves to crowds
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TV PAN Crowds
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GV PAN Arrival of Khaleda Zia, wife of late president Ziaur Rahman at rally, and waves to crowd (3 shots)
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CU Khaleda speaks to crowds from rostrum (2 shots)
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Initials ASG/BB





Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Two main alliances opposed to the Bangladesh government of General Hossain Mohammed Ershad announced plans, on August 5 for a six-hour general strike on August 27 to force the government to set up a caretaker government before parliamentary elections on December 8. The groupings -- the 15-party alliance led by Sheikha Hasina Wazed, daughter of the late president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the seven-party alliance led by Begum Khaleda Zia, wife of late president Ziaur Rahman -- announced their plans at separate rallies in Dhaka. In identical statements, the two leaders said that the elections would be a farce because the military government had lost its neutrality. Both alliances have announced that they would not participate in the elections unless martial law is withdrawn before the December 8 poll, when voters will choose a three-hundred-member parliament five months after elections were originally scheduled. Sheikha Hasina told her supporters that President Ershad had failed to keep his promises and was using flood relief aid to further his political aims. Begum Khaleda added that elections could not be free and fair under martial law. Both leaders announced details of local campaigns and election meetings. President Ershad seized power in a bloodless coup in March, 1982, and is scheduled to retire as army chief of staff in November, this year.