Sporadic clashes erupt during Bangladesh strike

Violent clashes erupted in some parts of Bangladesh Wednesday, the first day of a two-day nationwide strike called by the Jamaat-e-Islami party to protest against the Supreme Court awarding capital punishment to its leader Abdul Quader Mollah for war crimes, including mass killings.

According to media reports, protestors exploded four to five crude bombs in different parts of the capital, reported The Daily Star.

One man, identified as an autorickshaw driver, was killed after being hit by a stone hurled by protestors in Noakhali, southern Bangladesh, the newspaper quoted Sajidur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Companyganj police station, as saying.

Eight police personnel were injured in attacks by activists in Comilla and Satkhira, the report said.

In Rajshahi, a truck was torched by protestors.

According to a BBC report, schools and businesses remained shut Wednesday and bus services were also suspended.

Bangladesh's largest Islamist party called the 48-hour national strike after Mollah, its assistant secretary general, was sentenced Tuesday.