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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh opposition leader Zia calls for blockade | Bangladesh opposition leader Zia calls for blockade |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Bangladeshi opposition leader Khaleda Zia has called on her supporters to enforce a transport blockade after four protesters were killed in clashes with police and pro-government crowds. | Bangladeshi opposition leader Khaleda Zia has called on her supporters to enforce a transport blockade after four protesters were killed in clashes with police and pro-government crowds. |
| She urged members of her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to halt road, rail and river transport indefinitely. | She urged members of her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to halt road, rail and river transport indefinitely. |
| The deaths came on the first anniversary of disputed general elections won by the Awami League. | The deaths came on the first anniversary of disputed general elections won by the Awami League. |
| Both parties have called for rallies despite a ban on demonstrations. | Both parties have called for rallies despite a ban on demonstrations. |
| 'Prisoners' | 'Prisoners' |
| Security forces are preventing Ms Zia from leaving her party offices in the capital Dhaka. Police say they want to stop violence. | Security forces are preventing Ms Zia from leaving her party offices in the capital Dhaka. Police say they want to stop violence. |
| "Not only am I prisoner, but the whole of the country is being held captive. What kind of country are we living in?" Ms Zia said from her office. | |
| The opposition leader was forced to issue her call for mass protests from inside the premises, having been stopped from leaving since police cordoned off the area on Saturday night. | |
| Ms Zia and her arch rival, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, have frequently called for general strikes and blockades when in opposition. | Ms Zia and her arch rival, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, have frequently called for general strikes and blockades when in opposition. |
| The prime minister for her part accused the BNP of trying to create chaos in its efforts to overthrow the government. | The prime minister for her part accused the BNP of trying to create chaos in its efforts to overthrow the government. |
| "I am urging the BNP leader to stop these bomb and grenade attacks, these acts of sabotage, and killings, of arson and damage to property," she said in a televised address to the nation. | "I am urging the BNP leader to stop these bomb and grenade attacks, these acts of sabotage, and killings, of arson and damage to property," she said in a televised address to the nation. |
| On Monday, the authorities parked trucks laden with sand and bricks outside her office in what correspondents say was an effort to prevent her from spearheading anti-government protests in person. | On Monday, the authorities parked trucks laden with sand and bricks outside her office in what correspondents say was an effort to prevent her from spearheading anti-government protests in person. |
| While the opposition leader was barred from leaving her offices, armoured vehicles equipped with water cannon also stopped her supporters from entering or leaving. | |
| Deadly violence | Deadly violence |
| Thousands of riot police have been patrolling almost deserted streets in the capital. Authorities had cancelled bus, rail and ferry services into the city to prevent mass rallies. | Thousands of riot police have been patrolling almost deserted streets in the capital. Authorities had cancelled bus, rail and ferry services into the city to prevent mass rallies. |
| Violence broke out in various parts of the country. Two BNP activists were killed in the northern town of Natore, police said. | Violence broke out in various parts of the country. Two BNP activists were killed in the northern town of Natore, police said. |
| In nearby Kansat another protester was killed in clashes with police. A fourth died when police fired live rounds at crowds in northern Rajshahi district. | In nearby Kansat another protester was killed in clashes with police. A fourth died when police fired live rounds at crowds in northern Rajshahi district. |
| A number of people have been injured in clashes in the capital and about half a dozen other towns, reports say. | A number of people have been injured in clashes in the capital and about half a dozen other towns, reports say. |
| The BNP and other opposition parties boycotted last year's election, saying it would be rigged. | The BNP and other opposition parties boycotted last year's election, saying it would be rigged. |
| They were angry that Sheikh Hasina, who has been in power since 2009, refused to stand aside to make way for a neutral caretaker administration to oversee the election. | They were angry that Sheikh Hasina, who has been in power since 2009, refused to stand aside to make way for a neutral caretaker administration to oversee the election. |
| Dozens of BNP workers have disappeared since last year's election, with human rights groups blaming the government - although it denies this. | Dozens of BNP workers have disappeared since last year's election, with human rights groups blaming the government - although it denies this. |
| An adviser to the prime minister insisted on Sunday that Ms Zia had not been locked up but had been given "enhanced security protection". | An adviser to the prime minister insisted on Sunday that Ms Zia had not been locked up but had been given "enhanced security protection". |
| The two leaders have alternated in power for most of the last two decades when the army has not been in government. | The two leaders have alternated in power for most of the last two decades when the army has not been in government. |
| Battle of the leading ladies | Battle of the leading ladies |
| Political background: | Political background: |
| Times in power: | Times in power: |
| Why they do not like each other: | Why they do not like each other: |
| Reasons for more recent tension: | Reasons for more recent tension: |