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Bangladesh Bomb Blast Sparks New Violence
DHAKA, June 18 (News Agencies) - There were violent backlashes on the streets of Bangladesh after the worst bomb blast in the nation's history left 22 dead, police and reports said Monday.
In Dhaka, at least two staff of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia were hurt when unidentified gunmen in taxis and on motorcycles opened fire on the party offices, police and opposition party sources said.
Outraged BNP activists blamed the attack on the ruling Awami League party and went on a late night rampage Sunday, setting fire to at least two vehicles and damaging several others.
A crude bomb also exploded in old Dhaka late Sunday, narrowly missing a car carrying opposition left-party politician Rashed Khan Menon, police said.
In the port city of Chittagong BNP supporters, reacting to news of alleged attacks on Zia's motorcade and the party office in Dhaka, staged protest marches, setting fire to a bus and stoning several vehicles.
Police said Monday they had increased security throughout the city.
Violent clashes, mostly involving supporters of the Awami League party of Prime Minister Shekh Hasina Wajed and former prime minister Zia, were also reported Monday from several outlying districts.
Saturday night's blast at the party offices of the Awami League in the port city of Narayanganj also left at least 100 people injured.
It was the deadliest act of terror in Bangladesh's 30-year history.
About 400 supporters of Sheikh Hasina Wajed's party had been at the meeting in Narayanganj, a traditional party stronghold 20 kilometers (14 miles) east of the capital, when the blast hit at around 9:30 pm.
The massive explosion blew the tin roof of the office building clean off and left a scene of carnage and terror inside.
Sheikh Hasina hinted on Sunday she thought the BNP was involved in the bombing
She said the opposition wanted to disrupt imminent polls as it "knows the Awami League would sweep to back to power in a free and fair election".
The opposition has fought a long and bitter campaign to oust Sheikh Hasina ahead of the election, due by October.
Police arrested three people Sunday in connection with the blast, including a BNP member.
For her part Zia -- who condemned the bombing -- claimed the "murderous government" had been behind a separate attack Sunday on a motorcade in which she was traveling.
The opposition immediately announced a 36-hour nationwide general strike from Tuesday to protest at the alleged incident.
The Bangladeshi media urged the two parties to stop squabbling and show restraint.
"People's confidence in the efficiency and commitment of the state to protect lives is being eroded day by day," said an editorial in the Daily Star.
"There is fear in the public mind that such violence may increase. Under the circumstances it is the responsibility of the government to calm the situation and not to fan the fire.
"Both the ruling and the opposition parties must behave responsibly at this moment of crisis."
The blast brought the total killed in 11 major bomb explosions in Bangladesh since 1999 to at least 81 people, with 400 injured.
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