Students start new campaign against Ershad

Press, 15 July 1987, Page 8

Students start new campaign against Ershad

NZPA-Reuter Dhaka

Shops in Bangladesh began to run short of essential supplies yesterday as anti-Government strikes resumed after a brief recess.

Yesterday’s nine-hour stoppage was called by student unions to protest against a decision to allow army personnel to share administrative power in rural administrations.

Calling a "black day of protest,” the students said they were starting a fresh campaign against President Hossain Mohammad Ershad.

Shopkeepers at Dhaka’s New Market said they had received no supplies of fish, meat and fresh vegetables for three days because there ’was no transport to bring them from the countryside. Rice prices increased slightly although most dealers said there was no shortage.

"We can carry on for a couple of days before we need fresh supplies. But who can guarantee that there will not be another strike tomorrow,” a rice dealer said.

Armed police guarding main squares of Dhaka city silently watched the student protesters marching through the empty streets, shouting anti-Gov-emment slogans.

Student leaders said yesterday’s “hartal” (strike) was the start of a campaign against General Ershad aimed at stopping his move to appoint army personnel in the country’s district councils. A controversial bill allowing such appointments was passed in the parliament last Sunday in just six minutes. Major opposition parties walked out in protest

“The black law must be scrapped. If it means shedding of more lives, we are prepared to do that,” the strike leader, Shaukat Hossain, told a street-corner rally. Major opposition parties voiced their support for the strike, the second in three days. A 34-hour labour and opposition-led strike ended on Monday. Pro-Government Jatiya Party leaders criticised the strike, saying it was I attempt to cripple the economy. |