Antigovernment strike paralyzes Bangladesh<\/p>\n
DHAKA (AP): Business leaders urged the country's politicians
\nto talk to each other on Wednesday as a general strike meant to
\nforce the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina crippled
\nBangladesh cities and towns for the third consecutive day.<\/p>\n
At least five people were killed and more than 200 hurt in
\nclashes on Monday and Tuesday.<\/p>\n
No violence was reported on Wednesday as dozens of protesters
\nreturned to the Dhaka streets, shouting slogans such as, \"Set
\nfire to the throne of Hasina.\" Scores of the prime minister's
\nsupporters marched and chanted slogans against the strike.<\/p>\n
At least 6,000 security forces were on duty in Dhaka, a city
\nof nine million people.<\/p>\n
The shutdown, the second this month, was to end at dawn on
\nThursday. But the four-party opposition alliance is likely to
\nstage similar strikes next week, according to local press
\nreports.<\/p>\n
\"We urge our political parties to sit across the table to end
\nthe crippling crisis,\" Yusouf Abdullah Haroon, president of the
\nFederation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said
\nin a statement.<\/p>\n
The country lose an estimated $68 million for each strike day.
\n\"The strike is scaring off foreign investors as well,\" Haroon
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Kutubuddin Ahmed, head of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers
\nand Exporters Association, asked the opposition to halt the
\nstrike. He said Bangladeshi garment exporters are losing foreign
\nbuyers because of disruptions in shipment.<\/p>\n
\"Our politicians should put the national interests above
\neverything else,\" Ahmed said.<\/p>\n
The opposition has refused to hold any dialogue with Hasina's
\ngovernment and demands that it resign immediately to pave the way
\nfor new general elections.<\/p>\n
It accuses the government of corruption, incompetence and
\nharassment of political opponents. Hasina denies the charges and
\nvows to stay in power until her five-year term ends on July 13.<\/p>\n
Supporters and opponents of the strike have fought each other
\nwith guns and homemade bombs in the capital, Dhaka, Chittagong,
\nMunshiganj, Feni, Bogra and Barisal districts.<\/p>\n
The four deaths were caused by bombs -- small cans filled with
\nexplosives -- hurled by protesters.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, protesters uprooted railroad tracks in Chittagong
\nto the southeast and Rajshahi to the northwest, officials said.
\nThe tracks were repaired within a few hours.<\/p>\n
In the southern town of Barisal, government supporters set
\nfire to the house of an opposition lawmaker, Mujibur Rahman
\nSarwar, on Tuesday. No one was injured.<\/p>\n
Police detained nearly 100 protesters in Dhaka, Chittagong,
\nMunshiganj and Bogra on rioting charges. Schools and stores
\nclosed and most traffic halted in the capital and 60 other cities
\nand towns.<\/p>\n
Such strikes are usually ignored in villages, where 80 percent
\nof the nation's 130 million people live. The opposition alliance
\nis headed by Khaleda Zia, a former prime minister and leader of
\nthe Bangladesh Nationalist Party.<\/p>\n
Hasina had offered to resign in June and have a caretaker
\ngovernment hold elections, but withdrew the offer when the
\nopposition continued to call strikes, demanding she resign even
\nearlier.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/antigovernment-strike-paralyzes-bangladesh-1447893297",
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