Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – The dawn-to-dusk general strike, enforced by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the capital Dhaka on Sunday to protest the split of Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) into two parts, ended almost peacefully.
Jamaat-e-Islami and other like-minded political parties extended their support to the BNP’s daylong shutdown program.
BNP claimed over 250 of its party activists were picked up by law enforcers from different city points while demonstrating to enforce the strike.
However, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said 34 people were held during the strike hours.
The strike partially disrupted normal life and business activities in the capital. Schools and shops were closed while traffic in the capital Dhaka was less than normal.
Immediate past Dhaka City mayor and BNP city convenor Sadeque Hossain Khoka was picked up and freed after nearly two hours from Detective Branch of police office in the afternoon.
Later, he was admitted to a local private hospital on ground of sickness.
Mr. Khoka was held from the Dhaka Court premises with more than 20 supporters while picketing at noon, witnesses said.
BBN/SSR/AD-05Dec11-12:16 am (BST)