The World - News from April 18, 1988

Bangladesh President Hussain Mohammed Ershad freed 272 political prisoners but accused his opponents of inviting foreign powers, including the United States, to interfere in the country’s internal matters. “Some political leaders, after failing to make any headway in their movement against the government, went to Washington and pleaded to the American government not to provide assistance to Bangladesh,” Ershad told a group of teachers at a Dhaka rally, referring to last month’s visit to the United States by three opposition leaders. “They even pleaded to the American government to interfere in the affairs of Bangladesh,” the President added.