100 arrested during Bangladesh strike

100 arrested during Bangladesh strike

2011-07-06 21:43:02 GMT+7 (ICT)

DHAKA (BNO NEWS) -- More than 100 protesters were arrested on Wednesday, the first day of a 48-hour countrywide strike called by Bangladesh's main opposition party in protest against the abolition of a caretaker government.

According to Bangladesh News 24 Hours, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) alliance started enforcing the shutdown from 6 a.m. local time, demanding reinstatement of the caretaker government system and an end to 'public sufferings'. Clashes between security forces and protesters were reported in some places as police tried to prevent supporters from parading down the streets in processions or holding rallies.

As many as seven buses, two private cars and a van were set ablaze in Dhaka, while 20 buses were vandalized in Chittagong. BNP officials said a senior party leader was injured when police charged batons on a procession of some 25 opposition MPs.

BNP officials also claimed that police cordoned off their headquarters and did not allow them either to enter the office or to take out processions. Several activists were also arrested in the area.

Meanwhile, the lack of transport hampered normal business. Educational institutions and shops were closed at many parts of the country, whereas presence at government and private offices was lower than usual.

Last week, the Bangladeshi government passed a bill abolishing a non-party caretaker government system. The BNP and its key ally Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami are demanding the caretaker system to be restored in order to hold parliamentary elections.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-07-06