Bangladesh prepares for Opposition showdown Sunday
June 25th, 2010 - 9:21 pm ICT by IANS
Dhaka, June 25 (IANS) Deals signed with India by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are high on the agenda of the day-long nationwide protests that main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has called for Sunday.
Hasina, during her visit to India in January early this year, signed agreements that envisage exchange of criminals, fight against terrorism, and better trade ties besides a host of economic and security issues.
BNP Chairperson and Opposition leader Khaleda Zia announced the general strike at a grand rally in Dhaka May 19, protesting against a number of issues against the government of her political rival, Sheikh Hasina. These also include the recently-signed treaties with India.
Warning against arson and lawlessness, authorities in Bangladesh were preparing for the first nationwide stir called by the BNP since parliamentary elections in December 2008 in which it was routed by the Hasina-led “Grand Alliance”.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner A.K.M. Shahidul Haque Friday said the police would not prevent the BNP from observing its dawn-to-dusk stir. But it will take stern action against the protesters if they try to create anarchy by vandalising vehicles or setting them on fire, Star Online, the website of The Daily Star reported.
Tender-grabbing and extortions by government cronies; resolution of the ongoing water, gas, and electricity crises; resignation of the Election Commission; and cancellation of the recently-signed treaties with India are among the issues that will be highlighted in the protest, the website said.
The official said additional 10,000 police forces will be deployed at 4.00 a.m. on the day of the stir to maintain law and order.
- Opposition steps up stir against Bangladeshi PM - Feb 07, 2011
- Opposition observes nationwide strike in Bangladesh - Jun 27, 2010
- Opposition strike in Bangladesh over 'equal status' for women - Apr 04, 2011
- Hasina decries opposition's strike call - Nov 28, 2010
- Bangladesh opposition parties to launch stir against Hasina - Jun 06, 2010
- Bangladesh opposition observes Farakka Day - May 16, 2011
- Opposition strike hits normal life in Dhaka - Dec 04, 2011
- Lawmaker attacked, 100 buses vandalised in Bangladesh strike (Lead) - Apr 04, 2011
- WikiLeaks: India worried over Hasina, Zia - Dec 20, 2010
- Bangladesh asks Canada to deport Mujib killer - Feb 21, 2011
- Opposition stir in Bangladesh ends peacefully (Lead) - Jun 27, 2010
- Bangladesh's former PM evicted amid protests (Fourth Lead) - Nov 13, 2010
- Dhaka court rejects plea on `war criminals' in Pakistan - Feb 02, 2011
- Top Bangladesh opposition leader held for 'war crimes' (Lead) - Dec 19, 2010
- Hasina, Zia in new confrontation over airport project - Feb 01, 2011
Tags: bangladesh nationalist party, bangladesh nationalist party bnp, cronies, daily star, dawn to dusk, dhaka, election commission, grand alliance, grand rally, khaleda zia, lawlessness, metropolitan police, minister sheikh hasina, opposition leader, parliamentary elections, police commissioner, police forces, stern action, trade ties, water gas