DHAKA, 11 September 2006 — At least 100 people were injured in clashes as an opposition-sponsored general strike brought life to a standstill across Bangladesh yesterday.
About 10,000 police, paramilitary border guards and other auxiliary forces were deployed as transport, banks and ports were disrupted by the dawn-to-dusk strike in three cities and a dozen towns.
Home Affairs Ministry sources said security around strategic installations, including airports and harbors, was tightened after intelligence reports warned of attacks by militants. The strike was enforced by the opposition united front of 14 parties led by the Awami League to protest against alleged police brutalities during an anti-government demonstration in Dhaka on Sept. 6.
“The government is trying to wipe out the opposition using police and other security forces but this will not be possible,” said senior Awami League leader Muhammad Nasim. Analysts say harsh police action against protesters escalated the standoff between Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and opposition chief Sheikh Hasina demanding electoral reforms ahead of a general election in January. Western diplomats also express fears of a rising religious militancy in the country because of an unstable political situation. The strike, which also partially crippled the southern business hub of Chittagong, followed a night of street violence which left buses in flames and forced shops to close.
A spokesman said the ruling Nationalist-Islamist coalition had deployed over 10,000 additional police and paramilitary border troops as security was beefed up amidst fears of widespread violence.
