Dhaka, June 28: Many opposition activists were injured in clashes with police in capital Dhaka today as a countrywide dawn-to-dusk strike called by Awami League to protest the "tax-laden" national budget disrupted normal life in Bangladesh. Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas as supporters of the league, the country's main opposition party, clashed with them in front of al office at city's Bangabandhu Avenue, Dhanmandi, Shahbagh and Lalbagh areas.
Dozens of activists were injured while some persons were learnt to have been arrested by police. A report said some people were injured in clashes after anti-hartal elements attacked a procession brought out by Awami League at Savar, in the city outskirts.
Most commercial and trading activities stopped and shops and educational institutions were closed, but air, railway and riverine transports were almost unaffected, official sources said, adding government offices remained open with lesser attendance. However, long-distances buses and trucks did not ply and private vehicles largely remained off the roads, they said.
The strike, called to protest the taka 519.8 billion budget for fiscal 2003-2004 tabled on the Parliament on June 12, comes a day before the budget is scheduled to be passed in Parliament which is also holding its sitting today without legislators from Awami League, who are boycotting the Parliament to protest "improper conducting" of the House. Bureau Report