A prominent leader of the main opposition party Awami League and a former minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury was injured when police used baton to disperse a procession which he was leading through during the general strike called by his party . He was later admitted into a hospital. Amongst those who criticised police actions were the Leader of the Opposition and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the former President Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury. The strike was called by the main opposition party to press its demand for the resignation of the present government . The strike shut down schools and shops and disrupted public transportation throughout most of the country, but government offices remained open.
The Awami League leader and former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, called the strike after last month's ultimatum to the government to step down or comply with a set of demands, which included controlling rising crime in the country and restoring freedom of the press.
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia , in a public meeting, denounced general strikes while rejecting demands for her to quit and refused to call new elections, vowing instead to serve out her five-year term that ends in 2006.
The opposition in protest of today's police action has again called for a general strike on Saturday.