DHAKA, Nov. 21, Reuter: A general strike gripped Bangladesh on Saturday in a fresh campaign by major opposition parties to force out President Hossain Mohammad Ershad,

The 48hour strike, aimed at Closing down commerce and industry across the country, took effect only a few hours after Ershad offered early elections to defuse protests.

He also appointed a controversial Deputy Prime Minister and indirectly rebuked the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for what he called distortions in its coverage of Opposition protests.

The new strike was called by 21 antigovernment parties after work stoppages and rallies last week.

Political commentators said the wave of strikes had posed a strong. Challenge to nearly six years of rule by Ershad, who seized power in a military coup, He became the civilian President after winning an election in October, 1986.

‘Opposition parties say the polls Were rigged, But Ershad has denied the charge, Tin an apparent attempt to ease the mounting pressure on him to resign, he offered on Friday to hold fresh elections if the opposition called off its protests.

“Lam ready to discuss the prospect of an early election if it satisfies the Opposition”, Ershad told a meeting of 2,000 police officials at Dhaka.

But the main Opposition leaders — Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia, who are under house arrest — rebuffed the new election proposal.

Seven civilians and two policemen were killed in clashes during last week’s strikes. The government said the stoppages cost the impoverished country some 40 million dollars in production loss and damage to property.

Police officials told Reuters the 48hour stoppage would pass off peacefully if ruling Jatiya party activists did not try to force shops to open, as they did during last week’s strikes.

The party’s controversial Secretary-general, Shah Moazzem Hossain, was appointed on Friday as a Deputy Prime Minister.

Hossain, who is also the local government minister, was widely blamed for inciting his followers to attack opposition activists, but party insiders say Ershad was personally pleased with his performance in organizing the party.

About 10,000 opposition activists held rallies and marches on Dhaka streets on Friday to urge people to join the general strike.

Without naming the BBC, Ershad said a foreign broadcasting company was “meddling in our internal affairs”. His aides said he was referring to the British Corporation.

Article extracted from this publication >>  November 27, 1987