Bangladesh opposition calls for strike on August 30

30 Aug, 2004

Bangladesh's main opposition party called for a fourth strike day in a week on Monday to protest against a deadly grenade attack on a political rally.
The opposition Awami League has led a wave of often-violent protests and strikes after grenades were thrown at a crowded rally that its leader and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was addressing in the capital, Dhaka, eight days ago.
Nineteen people were killed and more than 150 wounded in the blasts, the worst in a series of bombings that have rocked the volatile Muslim-majority democracy in the last four years.
"The women's front of our party has called the strike on Monday to protest the attack. It is a people's protest against the carnage," Abul Kalam Azad, Hasina's press secretary, said on Sunday.
More than 330 people have been hurt in protests since the blasts as opposition supporters attacked railway stations, trains, vehicles and government buildings as well as in clashes with police and ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) activists.
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's BNP said the opposition strikes were pushing the country towards anarchy.
"The latest strike called by the opposition is aimed at creating total anarchy in the country," Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, BNP general secretary and cabinet minister, told reporters.
BNP activists plan to stage protests on Monday against the grenade attack opening the possibility of clashes with Awami League supporters.
Bangladesh announced a reward of 10 million taka ($168,520) for information leading to the arrest of those behind last Saturday's attack. An Interpol team arrived in Dhaka on Sunday to help Bangladesh probe the attacks at the request of local authorities, who do not rule out foreign involvement.
Analysts say while the strikes pose no immediate threat to the government, political tensions will remain high.
More than 105 people have died with over 500 wounded as mysterious bombers have hit cinema halls, concerts, opposition rallies and minority places of worship.
Hasina, who heads the secular Awami League, has accused militant Muslims close to Islamic parties that are part of Khaleda's ruling coalition of being behind the blasts. The government has rejected the allegations, condemned the blasts and vowed to capture the bombers.

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