Nationwide Strike In Bangladesh

Thousands of riot police and elite paramilitary forces were deployed in the Bangladeshi capital Sunday after violence ahead of a nationwide strike to protest changes to the country's electoral system.

At least 12 buses were set on fire overnight and 40 people were arrested, police said, just hours before the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) enforced its strike.

All shops, businesses and schools were shut in the capital on Sunday and major roads and highways were deserted.

At least 8,000 police and 1,500 paramilitary forces were deployed in the city on Sunday to prevent violence, local police officials said, while thousands more were on duty across the country.


From: http://ping.fm/N0dty