DHAKA, Nov. 14, Reuter: Protesters stoned police and burned vehicles on Saturday in strike-bound Bangladesh but police did not use powers given by President Mohammad Ershad to shoot rioters on sight.
Police and paramilitary forces fired several shots in the air to disperse crowds in Dhaka which attacked government buildings and vehicles though there was little ‘sign of the crackdown ordered by Ershad. Ershadl, a former General, said (on Friday police had been lenient with protestors and he would no longer tolerate “any more of this nonsense.
Most shops and offices closed land transport was halted for the third day this week in Dhaka, a city of four million people. Ershad has deployed 6.000 police and paramilitary reinforcements in
Dhaka and banned gathering of ‘more than five people.
Work stopped in the southern ports Khulna and Chittagong where two people were injured in clashes with police. A for-once united 21-party opposition called the strike as part of ‘a campaign to force the resignation. Of Ershad, who has ruled the Moslem nation of 105 million people since 1982. The eight-hour strike, which resumes on Sunday. Is also in protest at the House Arrest of the ‘opposition’s main leaders. Sheikh Hasina of the Awamj League and Begum Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh nationalist Party.
Police have shot dead at least five people since the protests on Tuesday in Dhaka, Riots and ar- son have broken out in nine other cities and towns.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 20, 1987
