1 killed, many injured in Bangladesh unrest
Opposition-called general strike turns violent
dhaka — Opposition activists in Bangladesh clashed with police and ruling party members on Sunday on the first day of a four-day general strike amid concerns by businesses that the country will suffer terribly if the ongoing chaos does not immediately stop.
At least one man died and scores were injured across the country as the opposition enforced the strike to force Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to quit and form a caretaker government made up of people from outside of mainstream political parties to oversee an election next year.
The latest spate of violence came after at least 18 people died during similar protests over the last two weeks as the opposition enforced shutdowns totaling 120 hours.
Television stations said a man died on Sunday in the southeastern district of Chittagong after picketers attacked an auto-rickshaw he was traveling in.
The latest developments come at a time of deep tension in Bangladesh, a nation struggling to overcome extreme poverty and rancorous politics. The situation became further complicated when authorities arrested five prominent leaders of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Friday and Saturday. After the arrests of Moudud Ahmed, MK Anwar, Rafiqul Islam Mia, Abdul Awal Mintoo and an aide to opposition leader Khaleda Zia, the opposition increased an already announced 72-hour strike by 12 hours in reply to the government’s crackdown. All of those who were arrested were sent to jail by a court on Saturday.
They will have to stay there at least until Thursday, when the court will hear police charges against them. Police said they were arrested in two separate cases involving charges of arson, smashing of vehicles and attacking police.
But the opposition says the charges are politically motivated and has vowed to intensify the protests.
Prothom Alo reported newspaper on Sunday that at least 200 vehicles have either been torched or vandalised across the country since Friday in response to the arrests. —