Bangladesh protesters and police clash in mass strike

Bangladeshi police have clashed with protesters in the capital Dhaka as a nationwide strike brought much of the country to a halt. The 24-hour industrial action shut schools and businesses, including crucial garment export shipments. The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) called the walkout in protest at “misrule” by the Awami-League led government. BNP leader Khaleda Zia, the former PM, was evicted from her home this month. Tuesday’s was the second opposition-led strike in the last fortnight.

‘Political vengeance’

Police used batons to disperse a group of opposition supporters near the BNP headquarters in the capital. Thousands of policemen were deployed across the country to prevent violence, said the authorities. The BNP said more than 1,000 party members and activists had been taken into custody in the days leading up to the latest walkout. It comes a day after the Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Khaleda Zia against her eviction from her militaryowned home. The house was leased to Ms Zia, a year after the assassination of her husband, former president General Zia-ur-Rahman, in a military coup in 1981.

The government said the lease was illegal, a finding upheld by the high court. Ms Zia’s supporters argue that the government’s decision is political vengeance. The strike halted garment exports, which account for over 80% of Bangladesh’s total exports.

Mass arrests before Bangladesh strike

The main opposition in Bangladesh says nearly 1,000 party leaders and supporters have been arrested ahead of a general strike planned for Tuesday.

Officials say they are arresting only those who might indulge in violence during the strike. The BNP has been holding rallies across the country for the last few days in protest at what they describe as anti-democratic moves by the government. In many places police used tear gas and batons to disperse activists.

The BNP has called for a strike on Tuesday in protest against what it calls the Awami League-led government’s inability to govern the country and its dictatorial methods. It will be the second such opposition-sponsored action in about two weeks. Business leaders and civil society activists have already urged the BNP to cancel, saying it will severely disrupt normal life and commercial activities. The strike comes two weeks after BNP party leader Begum Khaleda Zia was evicted from her residence in militaryowned house in the capital, Dhaka. The house was leased to Ms Zia, a year after the assassination of her husband – former president General Zia-ur-Rahman – in a military coup in 1981.

The government said the lease to the house was illegal. Her supporters argue that she should be allowed to stay in the house and the government’s decision to evict her was political. Analysts warn that if the two main parties do not resolve their differences soon, then the country may witness a series of strikes in the coming weeks.