Clashes in strike-hit Bangladesh capital hurt 35
DHAKA: A daylong strike largely paralysed Bangladesh today after at least 35 people were injured in clashes and police detained opposition activists.
A 14-party opposition alliance, led by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League, called the strike over demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner M A Aziz, who they accuse of favouring the government.
The opposition also wants the election commission to be reformed to make it ''fully capable of holding a free and fair parliamentary election'', due in January 2007.
Authorities deployed hundreds of extra police and special forces in Dhaka and other cities to keep order, after the opposition vowed to make the stoppage a ''new turning point'' in their long campaign to force out Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.
The port city of Chittagong was spared from the strike today, a working day in mainly Muslim Bangladesh, for an emotional religious anniversary, opposition leaders said.
But schools and businesses, including the Dhaka Stock Exchange and most government and private offices, were either closed or staffed thinly.
Transport was largely idled, witnesses said.
In Dhaka, at least 25 people were injured in clashes between Awami activists and police yesterday evening.
Newspapers said hundreds of anti-government activists were picked up by police overnight trying to discourage strikers. Police declined to confirm the reports.
Witnesses said today's clashes erupted when steel-helmeted riot police used batons to disperse opposition leaders and workers marching on the streets and chanting in support of the strike in Dhaka and in industrial town Tongi near the capital.
Twenty people were injured in clashes today Dhaka while 15 others in Tongi.
Police said they acted after protesters attacked them with stones and brickbats.
''It (police action) is autocratic, because holding of rallies and marches are our democratic right,'' said Bimal Biswas, an opposition leader.
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