Bangladesh detains five opposition members amid strike call

Eurasia News

DHAKA: Bangladeshi authorities late Friday detained three senior leaders of the main opposition party, hours after the party and its allies announced a new round of a 72-hour nationwide strike, Dispatch News Desk reported.

Those arrested included Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s Moudud Ahmed, M.K. Anwar and Rafiqul Islam Mia.

The strike call was given to pressure the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down and appoint a caretaker to oversee the elections scheduled to be held by January 25, 2014.

Police also detained a prominent businessman linked with the main opposition party and another aide of opposition leader Khaleda Zia early Saturday.