Dhaka: Bangladesh`s main opposition party
BNP announced a day-long nationwide general strike on Monday to
protest against the "policy of repression" and violent
response of the authorities during its shutdown on Sunday.
Khandaker Delwar Hossain, Secretary General of
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), announced the protest
programme, alleging that over 1,000 party activists were
arrested and some 500 cadres were severely injured in clashes
with the police and the youth wing of the ruling Awami League
party.
Normal life in the capital and much of Bangladesh was
disrupted yesterday due to the BNP`s nationwide general strike
to oppose the ruling coalition`s misrule and policies,
including "compromising national interests" by inking deals
with India.
The State-run BSS news agency reported that over 100
activists, including five senior BNP leaders were arrested
from different areas of the city amid clashes between the BNP
cadres and the baton wielding police.
The BNP decided to hold demonstrations to
protest against the violence inflicted on party activists. It
also demanding the unconditional release of those arrested
during yesterday`s strike.
All district leaders have already been instructed to
hold rallies protesting against the government`s "policy of
repression", Hossain was quoted as saying by the bdnews24
online today.
A top meeting chaired by the BNP supremo Khaleda Zia
demanded the unconditional release of all arrested activists,
including standing committee member Mirza Abbas, vice
president Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, and parliament member
Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie.
Authorities deployed about 10,000 extra police
personnel alongside the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)
troops to maintain order during the strike, Dhaka Police chief
AKM Shahidul Haque said.
The government underlined its determination to take
action against those seeking to create "anarchy" in the
country.
Bangladesh and India signed three agreements to
jointly combat the terror menace while New Delhi announced a
one-billion dollar line of credit to Dhaka during Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina`s New Delhi visit in January.
India also decided to give 250 MW of power to
Bangladesh from the central grid while they signed a
power-sharing agreement. Bangladesh promised not to allow its
territory to be used for terror against India.
The BNP, which is seeking to corner the ruling
coalition after its landslide victory in the 2008 general
elections, has sought to run an anti-government campaign by
accusing it of "compromising national interests" by inking
bilateral deals with India.
PTI
