DHAKA, 30 August 2004 — Bangladesh’s opposition has called yet another general strike for today, the fourth in a week and the 18th this year, a report said yesterday.
The official BSS news agency said the shutdown had been called by the Awami League’s women’s wing. The country was brought to a standstill on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday by strikes called by the Awami League to protest a deadly grenade attack on Aug. 21 on its political rally in Dhaka which killed 20 people. Strikes are a common form of protest in Bangladesh, despite appeals from business leaders and aid donors who say they are deepening the impoverished nation’s economic woes.
The fresh strike call coincides with a demonstration program earlier called by the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has deferred the program from Aug. 28 to 30 following a request by the country’s apex trade organization Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), as the opposition called a general strike for the same day.
Some 20 women bodies, including Sammilita Nari Samaj, Mohila Ainjibi Samity, Narigrantha Probortona, Nari Sramik Trade Union, Mohila Samity, Bangladesh Karmajibi Mohila Parishad and Samajtantrik Mohila Front, have backed the call for today’s shutdown after a meeting with leaders of Mohila Awami League (Awami League’s women wing).
The latest strike will be the 18th called by the Awami League since February as part of its intensified campaign to oust the government, a four-party coalition led by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
The opposition accuses the government of failing to crack down on crime and corruption. The government says it is working hard to tackle a grim situation inherited from the Awami League.
Bangladesh offered a reward of 10 million takas ($173,635; euro 144,407) yesterday to anyone who identifies those behind the grenade attack.
International police liaison body Interpol, meanwhile, sent two officials, one from Australia and the other from the United States, to help investigate the grenade attacks, police said.
The Interpol agents will talk with witnesses and review evidence, Inspector General of Police Shahadul Haque told reporters.
The opposition has rejected the police probe, complaining it would be biased despite the presence of Interpol experts. “If government intelligence agencies are involved in the probe into the bomb attack, it will never be impartial,” Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil said on Saturday.
He demanded an international investigation under the United Nations or the Commonwealth. Bangladesh Foreign Minister Morshed Khan has argued that “Interpol is the only international organization... for investigation of such incidents”, BSS said.
Opposition officials claim the grenade attack was an attempt to assassinate party leader Hasina Wajed, a former prime minister. Her bulletproof car was fired on as she was rushed away from the scene by aides and bodyguards, one of whom was killed. Police on Saturday said they would seize the car as it could provide important evidence, BSS said.
“It needs to be examined how a bulletproof car could be damaged in the attack and through an examination it is possible to determine the size of the bullets that caused spots at the car and the distance from which the bullets were fired,” Assistant Superintendent of Police Abdul Rashid told the agency.
On Wednesday a little-known group, Hikmatul Jihad, claimed responsibility for the assault and warned a fresh attempt would be made on Hasina’s life. The government has posted extra security for the opposition leader.
