Bangladesh opposition enforces dawn-to-dusk strike
By IANSTuesday, November 30, 2010
DHAKA - Opposition parties in Bangladesh enforced a dawn-to-dusk strike against the government Tuesday, a day after former prime minister Khaleda Zia lost an appeal before the Supreme Court against eviction from her Dhaka Cantonment house.
The hartal (strike) call, given after Zia’s eviction Nov 13, was for demanding action to resolve the miseries of the people, save democracy and defend the country’s interest.
The Zia-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) gave the strike call “to mount pressure on the judiciary and the government”, Star Online, website of The Daily Star, said Tuesday.
There was no word from Zia on losing her appeal before the apex court that denies her possession of the house where she lived from 1972.
No violence was reported in the early hours of the stir. However, a dozen vehicles were torched on the eve of the strike, while the police allegedly detained over 1,300 opposition activists, bdnews24.com, a newspaper website reported.
Media reports said tight security arrangements were in place.
All educational institutions and business establishments remain closed across the country.
The BNP’s move has been supported by its ally, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), the country’s largest Islamist party.
