Strikers, police clash at Mirpur

Strikers have clashed with police, vandalised vehicles, and exploded improvised bombs in Dhaka as the BNP and its allies try to enforce a daylong shutdown across Bangladesh.

At least one person was injured in police firing during clashes in Mirpur on Monday morning.

Traffic has been mostly unaffected but private vehicles were not seen on the streets in usual numbers.

In the morning, BNP Joint Secretary General claimed the people were "spontaneously observing" the strike.

Pallabi police OC Ziauzzaman said a group of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami activists started vandalising vehicles in the morning.

The pro-strikers, hurling stones, fought pitched battles with police, who responded with baton charge, rubber bullets, and buckshots.

A man, injured in buckshot, has been sent to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, Ziauzzaman.

The BNP-led 20-Party Alliance called the strike protesting denial of their Gazipur rally permission and demanding release of their leaders.

The ruling Awami League has, meanwhile, threatened to foil the strike.

A large police contingent, with prison vans and riot cars, has been deployed outside the BNP's Naya Paltan headquarters.

Pre-shutdown violence in Dhaka had left five people, including three women, injured.

There have been unconfirmed reports of explosions from various places.

Long-haul buses have been grounded but Dhaka's road communication with the nearby districts remains unaffected.

Jatrabarhi police OC Oboni Shankar Kar said the situation was "quite normal".

Rizvi said, "The people don't want this government anymore. They have kept their businesses shut and vehicles off the road.

"It proves they are spontaneously observing the strike."