Much of Bangladesh was paralysed on Monday by the latest strike called by Jamaat-e-Islami, with two powerful explosions rocking Shahbag Square, the epicentre of a massive campaign demanding toughest punishment for leaders of the fundamentalist party for war crimes during the 1971 war.
Two homemade bombs exploded at Shahbag Square just after a procession, staged by youngsters belonging to Ganajagaran Mancha, protesting the strike passed the scene. ‘None was hurt as the bombs were blasted near the Shahbag Police Station,’ said a police officer, adding that two motorcyclist hurled the bombs and fled the scene immediately.
Protesters clashed with police in several towns and set several vehicles on fire to enforce the strike. Shops and schools were closed here and major roads were largely deserted. Two police officers were injured in the northern town of Ullapara after protesters threw a homemade bomb into their vehicle, police said.