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An activist at a protest in Dhaka. (AP)
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Dhaka, Feb. 18 (PTI): Three persons were killed in sporadic clashes in Bangladesh today during a general strike called by the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) to protest their leaders’ trial for 1971 war crimes.
Witnesses said JI activists visibly took a hit-and-run strategy in Dhaka and several other cities amid a call by rival protestors at Shahbagh Square to defy the strike.
One pedestrian was killed when a minibus overturned as it was chased by JI activists, who also damaged four buses in the capital. Transport operators defied the JI strike call expressing solidarity with demands for trial of “crimes against humanity” during the 1971 war against Pakistan.
Another death was reported from central Comilla district where JI activists clashed with police. Witnesses said one person died with bullet injuries after JI protesters went on rampage on the street prompting the police intervention.
The third death was reported from southeastern Cox’s Bazar, a Jamaat stronghold . The victim was a patient who died when JI activists attacked the ambulance he was travelling in.
Many schools in Dhaka were open though with a thin student presence while businesses remained open as the main shop owners association said they planned to ignore the call by JI.
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