Thaindian News

Dhaka, Dec 4 (IANS) Normal life in this Bangladesh capital was Sunday’s affected to a large extent due to a day-long strike called by the country’s main opposition party in protest against splitting the Dhaka municipal corporation into two parts.

Many streets wore an almost deserted look, but a few cycle rickshaws could be seen, Xinhua reported.

Shops, business establishments and educational institutions were closed.

There were no reports of any major incident of violence since Sunday morning, but hundreds of opposition activists tried to hold processions along major roads in thye capital.

Security forces had to fire tear gas and charge with batons to disperse them.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which called the dawn-to-dusk strike, said the decision to split the Dhaka City Corporation was “autocratic” and that it “went against the spirit of constitutional values”.

Parliament adopted a bill Nov 29 to split the corporation.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the decision was taken to serve the city dwellers better.

But the BNP led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia said the government’s decision was “nothing but a reflection of its autocratic and unrealistic attitude”.

It was meant for political gains and goes against people’s interests, the BNP said in a statement.

The party has also threatened to go for a non-stop movement to force the government to abandon the split.

“No conspiracy to bifurcate capital Dhaka will be tolerated,” said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP’s acting secretary general.