VOA标准英语2008年-Bangladesh's Battling Begums May Get Medical Re

By Steve Herman
New Delhi
08 June 2008

Media reports in Bangladesh say the military-backed interim¹ government is poised² to allow the medical release of two former prime ministers jailed for alleged³ corruption⁴. VOA Correspondent Steve Herman in our South Asia bureau in New Delhi reports the decision would be a face-saving way to break a political deadlock⁵ that could clear the way for scheduled elections to put Bangladesh back on track to democracy.
　

Sheikh Hasina (r) is surrounded by police officers as she leaves court (July 2007 file photo)

Media reports from Dhaka say the caretaker government there is likely to decide that former prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia will be allowed to go abroad for medical treatment. The two political foes⁶, known as the "Battling Begums", are jailed facing corruption charges.

The release from custody⁷ of the two women, who respectively head the country's two largest political parties, could break a political stalemate that has threatened to derail planning for December national elections.

Dhaka University political science professor Ataur Rahman describes the possible move as face-saving for the caretaker government and the major political forces.

"Its face-saving because these [corruption] cases, if you take it rigorously in the court of law there may be some punishment," he said. "Ideally many people thought that would happen. At the same time, the hold of these two ladies in politics of the country was so overwhelming it was not possible. In any case they would stay in Bangladesh, so they would still carry their strength."
　

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia waves to supporters after she was arrested in Dhaka, Bangladesh (file photo: 03 Sep 2007)

But former Prime Minister Zia appears to be in no mood to leave. Media reports quote her during a court appearance Sunday as saying she is not going anywhere because there are good physicians available in Bangladesh to treat her.

Her rival, former Prime Minister Hasina, appears more flexible. Family members and her lawyers say she would go to Europe or the United States for treatment if allowed to leave the country.

The two political leaders were arrested as part of the military-backed interim government's sweeping⁸ crackdown on graft⁹. The authorities say such a move was necessary to rid Bangladesh of rampant¹⁰ corruption before elections can be held.

Officials have not disclosed what ailments¹¹ would compel overseas medical treatment. Hasina has a damaged ear resulting from a bombing attack targeted at her four years ago. She has also had fluctuating blood pressure. Zia is believed to have arthritis¹².

Hasina is chief of the Awami League. Zia heads the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Clashes on the streets between supporters of the two parties led to upheaval¹³ in 2006, prompting the caretaker government, backed by the Army, to impose a state of emergency in January of 2007.

The interim government announced plans to hold nationwide parliamentary elections this December. But the BNP and the Awami League have said they will boycott¹⁴ polling unless their two leaders are freed.

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 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。

3 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

4 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。

5 deadlock   

n.僵局，僵持

参考例句：

• The negotiations reached a deadlock after two hours.两小时后，谈判陷入了僵局。
• The employers and strikers are at a deadlock over the wage.雇主和罢工者在工资问题上相持不下。

6 foes   

敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They steadily pushed their foes before them. 他们不停地追击敌人。
• She had fought many battles, vanquished many foes. 她身经百战，挫败过很多对手。

7 custody   

n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留

参考例句：

• He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。
• He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后，他立即被押了起来。

8 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

9 graft   

n.移植，嫁接，艰苦工作，贪污；v.移植，嫁接

参考例句：

• I am having a skin graft on my arm soon.我马上就要接受手臂的皮肤移植手术。
• The minister became rich through graft.这位部长透过贪污受贿致富。

10 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

11 ailments   

疾病（尤指慢性病），不适( ailment的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His ailments include a mild heart attack and arthritis. 他患有轻度心脏病和关节炎。
• He hospitalizes patients for minor ailments. 他把只有小病的患者也送进医院。

12 arthritis   

n.关节炎

参考例句：

• Rheumatoid arthritis has also been linked with the virus.风湿性关节炎也与这种病毒有关。
• He spent three months in the hospital with acute rheumatic arthritis.他患急性风湿性关节炎，在医院住了三个月。

13 upheaval   

n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱

参考例句：

• It was faced with the greatest social upheaval since World War Ⅱ.它面临第二次世界大战以来最大的社会动乱。
• The country has been thrown into an upheaval.这个国家已经陷入动乱之中。

14 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。