Around 200 injured during Bangladesh general strike

Dhaka, Apr 23 (UNI) Around 200 people were injured in Bangladesh today during a general strike sponsored by the 14-party opposition combine headed by Awami League (AL) to press the Khaleda Zia Government to carry out electoral reforms ahead of general elections scheduled early next year.

The mainstream opposition enforced the dawn-to-dusk hartal at 0600 hrs a second time in four days, to mount pressure on the alliance rulers to accept their reform proposals for holding neutral and credible elections.

Witnesses said most vehicles stayed off the roads while schools, shops, business centres and private offices kept their shutters down during the hartal hours.

Police and pickets locked in sporadic clashes from morning to midday, leaving dozens wounded, including policemen, and many were arrested.

Police fired teargas shells to disperse stone pelting Awami League activists who damaged several buses near Awami League headquarters at Bangabandhu Avenue.

As the activists lit fire to protect them from pungent teargas, one tin-shed shop near AL office and another shop on the second floor of Ramna Bhaban were partially damaged.

A few police personnel suffered wounds from brick batting.

Police smashed anti-government pickets in Mahakhali, Mirpur, Matijheel and Gulistan areas and rounded up more than 40 activists.

The opposition has announced Dhaka Siege programme on May 21 as part of its seemingly final round of agitation to force Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to accept the electoral reforms for free and fair elections scheduled early next year.

Ms Khaldea Zia is scheduled to hand over power to a non-party caretaker administration on October 28 this year on the completion of her five-year term.

UNI XC SI VC1928