World News > 7,000 arrested in crackdown on Bangladeshi opposition
Dhaka, Apr 23 (IANS) :
A bid to crack down on the Bangladesh opposition's anti-government protests continues, with over 3,000 more arrested here over Thursday and Friday.
Riot police raided different city areas and bus and rail terminals and continued to arrest people. Police have now apprehended about 7,000 people in the capital in the last four days.
Main opposition Awami League headed by Sheikh Hasina has threatened to oust the coalition government led by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party by the end of April.
"People are scared of going to Dhaka as police is arresting people at random without warrants," said a journalist based in southern district of Khulna.
The authorities in Dhaka central jail and Dhaka magistracy are feeling the pressure of dealing with so many arrested people. Thousands of people gathered outside the jail and the magistrate's court, inquiring about their relatives.
The Awami League, demanding a mid-term election, tried to demonstrate in eight constituencies in Dhaka Friday, but a huge contingent of police thwarted its efforts, not permitting anyone to assemble, witnesses said.
The party accuses the government of corruption, describing it as inefficient and repressive. The prime minister and her party, which is half way through its five-year tenure, have rejected the accusations and refused to quit.
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