Bangladesh opposition enforces nationwide general strike

Sun, 14 Nov 2010

Dhaka - Bangladesh main opposition party called a nationwide general strike Sunday over the eviction of former prime minister Khaleda Zia from her leasehold in a military zone.

The first half of the 12-hour shutdown beginning at 6 am (0000 GMT) was generally peaceful, police said.

Operations at main ports were suspended while shops, schools and private businesses kept their shutters down. Traffic was light.

Khaleda moved out of her leasehold residence on Saturday.

"I was evicted from my house. I was dragged out and forced to get in the car," the leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party said.

But the military's Inter Service Public Relations department said she had complied with a court order which last month ordered her to vacate the leasehold within 30 days.

Khaleda, widow of military ruler Ziaur Rahman, was allotted the leasehold after the he was killed in a coup in 1981.

The government had accused the former premier of carrying out political activities from her residence in violation of the lease.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/353445,enforces-nationwide-general-strike.html.