Bangladesh opposition extends countrywide strike till Friday

Dhaka: Bangladesh's opposition alliance led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) decided Tuesday to extend the ongoing nationwide strike till Friday morning, protesting against the "killing of opposition supporters".

BNP's joint secretary general Salahuddin Ahmed said in a statement that the law enforcement agencies were killing opposition supporters and dumping their bodies on farmlands and in water bodies, according to a Xinhua report.

He also blamed authorities of involving opposition supporters in false cases and conducting mass arrests of opposition leaders and activists.

The BNP and its allies staged a 72-hour strike from Sunday morning amid a nationwide transport blockade.

Former prime minister Khaleda Zia's 20-party opposition alliance, who boycotted the general elections held Jan 5 last year, have enforced a non-stop nationwide blockade since Jan 5 this year, demanding fresh parliamentary polls under a non-party caretaker government system.

More than 100 people have been killed so far in the ensuing political violence and most of them have been killed during firebomb attacks on public vehicles. The numerous strikes have crippled normal life in the country.