The general strike planned for June 27 is the first announced by the opposition since the ruling party won general elections in December.

General strike, which usually forces stores and schools to close and halt traffic, is a common opposition tactic in Bangladesh to highlight its demands. The protest often erupts into violence.

Opposition leader Khaleda Zia asked cheering supporters at a rally in Dhaka on Wednesday to make the planned shutdown a success.

“You must make sure that schools, stores and traffic shut down across the country on June 27,” she said at rally organized in central Dhaka by her Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

Zia alleged that the government failed to check corruption and extortion of businessmen by ruling party activists. She also accused police of harassing the opposition activists.

Bangladesh has a history of political violence. Zia and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are archrivals and have traded power since the end of military rule in 1990.

The December elections were held after about two years of emergency rule by a military-backed interim government.

Hasina's Awami League party holds more than two-thirds of seats in the 330-member Parliament.