Bangladesh ramps up security as strike hits
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-02-05 13:55

Bangladesh doubled the number of security personnel deployed in the capital ahead of Saturday's nationwide strike, the fifth in about two weeks.

Nearly 11,000 police, paramilitary troops and other security forces were on duty in Dhaka, where there were few buses and taxis on the usually teeming streets early on Saturday.

Police said the doubling of security personnel included 300 specially trained women police brought into the capital from outlying districts to tame women opposition activists -- who often turn violent -- during the strike.

Abdul Jalil, general secretary of the main opposition Awami League, said on Friday the strikes were aimed at toppling what he called the failed government of Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

The opposition has been campaigning to oust Khaleda for several years, accusing her government of being corrupt, inefficient and repressive.

It has also accused the government of failing to investigate properly and punish perpetrators responsible for staging a series of bombings at opposition rallies. The government says such accusations are nonsense.

The Awami League called a series of protest strikes after a grenade attack at a party rally in the country's northeast on Jan. 27. Five people died in that attack.

Another strike is set for Sunday, taking the total to six in two weeks.

The strikes have halted transport and business over a wide area, shut schools and disrupted the country's main port in Chittagong.

The government has vowed to act against protesters.

"Those who try to disrupt normal life and damage property in the name of strikes are enemies of the people and the country. We will deal with them sternly," a senior police officer said late on Friday.

"We shall overcome all obstacles and continue our protest until the government goes," said senior Awami official Mufazzal Chowdhury Maya, leading a street march in Dhaka on Saturday.

Saturday and Sunday are working days in mainly Muslim Bangladesh, a country of 130 million often plagued by natural disasters and political turmoil.

Close

Today's Top News     Top World News
College girls step into beauty controversy         US Congress move on RMB unproductive         Trains take the holiday travel strain         Japan to talk about end of China loans - media         US general: it is 'fun to shoot some people'         Female journalist kidnapped in Baghdad	Shiite ticket has big lead in Iraq vote       Bush plan would up defense, cut farm funds       Rice says diplomacy can succeed in Iran       Al-Qaeda plot against London 'inevitable'       U.N.: Detainees may develop psychosis       Sharon urges Palestinians to fight terror