Bangladesh opposition calls for nationwide strike protesting attack ex-PM

Bangladesh's main opposition alliance has called for a nationwide dawn-to-dusk strike on Wednesday in protest against attack on ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's motorcade during her campaign for her alliance-endorsed city poll candidates.

Khaleda' s 20-party alliance will also stage demonstrations across the country except for Dhaka and Chittagong cities Tuesday on the same issue.

Dhaka and southeastern city Chittagong metropolitan areas will remain out of the hartal purview due to the city corporation elections slated for April 28.

Standing Committee Member Moudud Ahmed of Khaleda's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the country's largest opposition party, announced the programs at a press briefing hours after the attack.

The attack aimed at killing BNP chief and disturbing her campaign for alliance in the city poll, he claimed.

At least four people were injured as miscreants attacked motorcade of BNP chief Khaleda Zia after she went to campaign for her party-endorsed mayoral and councilor candidates on Monday evening.

Dhaka South and North City Corporation polls are slated for April 28. The election to the Chittagong City Corporation will also take place on the same day.

According to the country's electoral rules, municipal elections are to be held in a non-partisan manner, but political parties indirectly nominate candidates to test their popularity in such local level elections. Endi