AT LEAST 50 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN BANGLADESH ON SUNDAY WHEN POLICE USED BATONS AND FIRED TEARGAS SHELLS TO DISPERSE OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS ON THE STREETS OF CAPITAL DHAKA DURING A DAYLONG STRIKE, WITNESSES SAID. THE STRIKE SHUT MOST TRANSPORT, OFFICES, SCHOOLS AND BUSINESS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SUNDAY IS A WORKING DAY IN BANGLADESH. VIOLENCE WAS REPORTED FROM HALF A DOZEN DISTRICTS WHERE ACTIVISTS DAMAGED DOZENS OF VEHICLES AND FOUGHT PITCHED BATTLES WITH POLICE DURING THE SECOND GENERAL STRIKE IN THREE DAYS, WITNESSES SAID. MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE WERE INJURED, DURING THURSDAY'S COUNTRYWIDE STRIKE, REUTERS QUOTED OFFICIALS AND WITNESSES AS SAYING. A 14-PARTY OPPOSITION ALLIANCE LED BY FORMER PRIME MINISTER SHEIKH HASIAN, CHIEF OF AWAMI LEAGUE, CALLED THE STRIKES TO PRESS THE GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPT DEMANDS FOR ELECTORAL REFORMS, IMPROVE LAW AND ORDER, REDUCE PRICES AND IMPROVE SUPPLIES OF ELECTRICITY AND DIESEL.
