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Bangladesh On Strike Over Alleged Opposition Leader Attack
DHAKA, June 19 (News Agencies) - Businesses and schools were closed and police were deployed across Bangladesh Tuesday as a 36-hour nationwide strike began to protest an alleged attack on Khaleda Zia, the leader of the country's main opposition alliance.
Five people were injured in a brief clash in Dhaka's Rajarbagh district during an exchange of stone-throwing strikers and police tear gas and warning bullets, the private Ekushey television network said.
But, mostly the day passed peacefully, with police keeping a close eye on several marches staged either in support or against the strike.
Most shops, offices and schools were shut, but as the heavy monsoon rains eased, a large number of vehicles were on the roads across the 10 million-strong capital.
In parliament, members of the ruling Awami League blasted the opposition for the strike, saying such actions only ruined the country's economy.
The strike, due to end at dusk Wednesday, was organized by a four-party opposition alliance led by Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to protest the shooting directed at her convoy Sunday. The former prime minister then cancelled a tour to southern districts.
The incident came just hours after a blast that killed 22 members of the Awami League, in the nation's worst-ever bombing.
Police arrested three people on Sunday in connection with the blast, including a BNP member and a woman. The woman was later freed.
The Awami League has filed a case naming 26 people, including some from the BNP and its Muslim ally -Jamaat-e-Islami- in connection with the bombing.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed went to the port city of Narayanganj Tuesday to see the site of the bomb blast and talked to bereaved families.
"I promise to put those responsible on trial speedily," she told thousands of residents and supporters who, braving the rains, carried Bangladeshi and black flags.
The premier broke down as she consoled the relatives of the dead speaking briefly in front of the ruins of the bombed party office.
"Kill me, but please don't kill our sons and daughters," Sheikh Hasina said.
The parliament, boycotted by the BNP and its allies for over two years, adopted a resolution on Tuesday condemning the bombing.
In turn, Zia accused the Awami League of carrying out the attack on her motorcade, saying it was an attempt on her life.
But the ruling party denied any involvement, calling the incident a "pre-planned drama."
Police refuted the opposition's version of the events as "not true," saying in a statement Tuesday "private security personnel of the opposition leader Khaleda Zia first opened fire on agitating people."
The opposition has fought a long and bitter campaign to oust Sheikh Hasina before October's national election.
Sheikh Hasina, whose five-year term ends next month, said in an interview published Tuesday that despite "conspiracies" and the string of bomb blasts, elections would be held on schedule.
Accusing the opposition of conspiring to subvert the election, she told Dhaka's Independent daily, "They (the opposition) do not want elections for fear of suffering a crushing defeat, but whatever the conspiracy, elections shall be held."
On Tuesday, Zia categorically said her BNP had nothing to do with the bombing.
The opposition, in turn, accused the Awami League of trying to foil the elections, saying Sheikh Hasina's party has been alienated from the people. It also said it would ensure that the elections are held.
The 330-member parliament ends its session July 12, becoming the first legislature in the country's history to complete its full term, despite the boycott.
Sheikh Hasina will then hand over power to a neutral caretaker government, which will organize elections to be held by October or within 90 days.
In Washington, the United States condemned the recent attacks as "contemptible," saying, "The United States condemns the bombing incidents that have occurred in Bangladesh this year."
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said political violence "has plagued Bangladesh for too long."
India called the Narayanganj attack "reprehensible" and called for all "civilized nations (to work) together to combat the menace of terrorism."
Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh, in a letter to his Bangladeshi counterpart, said India "strongly condemns all acts perpetrated by extremist elements to subvert the democratic process."
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