Fresh fears over strike

Bangladesh has passed an anxious day with the BNP and the Awami League taking an inflexible stand on the formation of the interim government to oversee the next parliamentary election.

A few casualties were reported from the districts, though capital Dhaka passed a relatively calm Friday.

The BNP-led 18 Party alliance announced from its Friday rally that it would enforce a three-day general strike if the government did not concede it demand for a non-party caretaker government to oversee the elections.

It set a two-day deadline for the government to initiate a dialogue with the opposition or face the shutdown, putting people on the edge yet again.

Friday being a weekly holiday, not many people are usually seen on the streets, but the city this Friday looked unusually deserted, a forlorn look accentuated by a nagging drizzle.

Everyone had their eyes on the BNP-led 18-Party alliance rally at Suhrawardy Udyan
on Friday afternoon.

Mokhlesur Rahman, who lives in the city’s Mirpur-11, said around 7pm, “I have passed my day watching television. I feel relieved that there was no major incident.

“I had feared that something big may take place. But nothing like happened. But both parties have to compromise a little.”

Rahman, a bank official, however, felt worried by a three-day shutdown call issued by the opposition.

Shafiur Rahman, a businessman based in Mohakhali, said, “It would have been good if no hartal had been called. We could have lived in peace.”

“We have slipped into a newly worried environment. It was not necessary. There was enough scope for starting talks. This scope just got delayed with this hartal call.”

Bombs were hurled at police and two vehicles set on fire amid the tight security all over the city on Friday when a peaceful rally was held by BNP.

Petrol bombs were hurled at police from a Shibir procession in front of Kadam Foara in the city’s High Court area.

Around the same time, crude bombs were exploded and some vehicles were set on fire at Shahbagh, Karwan Bazar, Kataban, Segunbagicha and Old Paltan in the city.

Six people were killed in clashes between law enforcers and Jamaat-Shibir and BNP men.

As per the 15th amendment to the Constitution, the election is to be held between Oct 25 and Jan 24. And that is way, today is the beginning of the countdown day to the election.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had on Oct 18 offered an all-party interim Cabinet, urging BNP, the main opposition party, to be part of that cabinet.

Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia has rejected the formula, proposing a caretaker cabinet with advisors from 1996 and 2001 caretaker cabinets.

The Prime Minister termed the Opposition Leader’s offer unrealistic.

Khaleda's rally and shutdown

Khaleda Zia has announced a nationwide 60-hour shutdown from 6am on Oct 27 to 6pm on Oct 29 if the government did not start a dialogue within the next two days on the polls-time government she suggested.

"But if the government comes up with positive proposals for a dialogue in the next two days, we will continue the negotiations but also continue the movement on the streets."

She said that the Opposition would not go to polls under the Sheikh Hasina administration. "There will be no election in Bangladesh with Hasina in power.”

Khaleda said the BNP's formula of an 'even-handed' and 'roundly-represented' caretaker should be accepted by the government.

AL for strike withdrawal

Meanwhile, the Awami League has urged the BNP Chairperson to withdraw her call for 60-hour strike and prepare for the forthcoming national election instead.

At a press briefing at the party President's Dhanmondi office after Khaleda's address, Awami League Presidium member Mohammad Nasim said, "We had hoped the Opposition leader will say something with responsibility. But her speech has made the nation disconsolate and concerned."

He said her remarks at the 18-Party alliance's rally at Suhrawardy Udyan were 'illogical, inert and aggressive'.

But earlier in the day, Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will formally invite the Opposition chief Khaleda Zia for a dialogue any time.

Clashes, explosions, six die

Apart from Dhaka, the BNP-led 18-Party alliance on Friday held rallies in several districts including Chittagong, Rajshahi and Khulna after police and local administration gave conditional permission.

Clashes took place in many places including Chakaria, Chandpur and Nilphamari. Six were killed in those areas during clashes with the law enforcers.

Two BNP protesters died in clashes with BGB troopers at Chakaria Upazila in Cox’s Bazar when the Opposition supporters took out a procession on Friday, violating prohibitory orders under Sec 144.

Chakaria police identified the deceased as Joint Convenor of Chakaria unit of Swechchhasebok Dal Saiful Islam Badsha, 28, and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activist Mohammed Mizan, 18.

However, three activists of the BNP’s youth affiliate, the Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal, were killed in clashes with Awami League supporters and police at Faridganj Upazila in Chandpur.

They were identified as Juba Dal activists Arif Hossain, 23, and Jahangir Hossain, 30, and Babul Hossain, 30, all from the same Upazila.

An Islami Chhatra Shibir activist, Moslem Uddin, 32, died when Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP supporters clashed with police and RAB in Joldhaka Upazila in Nilphamari.

Around 100 others including policemen and journalist were injured in the running battles and clashes in Chandpur and Nilphamari.

Meanwhile, clashes also rocked several others districts, leaving over 100 people injured.

At least 50 including policemen were injured when supporters of the Awami League and BNP clashed in Comilla's Manoharganj.

Another clash between Opposition and ruling party activists in Brahmanbaria's Kasba left at least 10 wounded.

In Gaibandha's Sadullapur Upazila, a handmade bomb exploded in front of the local Awami League unit office around 7:30pm.

Running battles took place between activists of the BNP and Bangladesh Chhatra League at Sripur, in Gazipur, earlier in the day.

A clash between police, supporters of Chhatra Dal and Chhatra League at Lalmonirhat's Hatibandha left five, including two policemen, injured.

BNP supporters from a procession exploded crude bombs at Magura town.

At least 15 leaders and activists from both ruling and opposition parties were injured when they clashed at Barhatta in Netrokona.

Opposition supporters from a procession reportedly hurled crude bombs at police at Ishwardi in Pabna.

Eight others in Panchagarh and 23 more in Rangamati were also injured in clashes.

At least 50 people, including 20 policemen were wounded during a clash between police, supporters of ruling and opposition parties at Maijdee in Noakhali.

Another 20 people, including seven law enforcers, were injured in a clash between police and activists of Jamaat and BNP at Barabkunda Union in Sitakunda.

(Additional reporting by Staff Correspondents Shahidul Islam, Kamal Talukder, Suliman Niloy, Ashik Hossain, Golam Mujtaba Dhruba, Faizul Siddikii and District Correspondents; writing by Tanjir Rahman and Rehman Zia)