Dozens of protesters arrested in Bangladesh

Dozens of protesters arrested in Bangladesh

2011-06-12 21:00:42 GMT+7 (ICT)

DHAKA (BNO NEWS) -- At least 50 opposition activists on Sunday were arrested during a countrywide general strike against the Bangladeshi government attempts to change the voting system.

Among those arrested were former home minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury and water resources minister Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, also vice-presidents of the main opposition party. They were arrested on charge of obstructing vehicular movement.

According to Bangladesh News 24 hours, mobile courts handed down punishment to opposition activists for committing anarchy and obstructing normal life. At least 19 people were given jail for different terms and fined while picketing, mainly for vandalism.

"The mobile courts are working in line with law. None, even ministers can speak about and against the court," home minister Shahara Khatun said.

Activists from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) started to gather earlier on Sunday in front of the party's central office, while police cordoned off the area. The opposition party and its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami began a 36-hour shutdown from 6:00 a.m. to demand the caretaker system must stay in place for holding parliamentary elections.

Two buses and seven buses were set ablaze shortly before the beginning of the nonstop general strike. In addition, at least 50 people were injured after police fired about 30 rubber bullets and 20 tear gas shells when clashes broke out between the BNP and its main rival, Awami League.

Mobile courts on Saturday summarily sentenced 56 people to jail in the capital on charges of obstructing state operations through various programmes.

Last Sunday, police arrested 80 opposition activists during a similar strike. Three small bombs were exploded near the offices of the BNP, while police hit protesters with batons, injuring at least 70 people.

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