BNP-led alliance enforces nationwide strike

A general strike called by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led 20-party alliance to protest a constitutional amendment allowing parliament to remove Supreme Court judges today appeared to have drawn little response with transports in busy Dhaka streets operating almost normally.
The BNP-led coalition called their first strike since the January 5 elections, which they had boycotted, four days after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awmi League-led government got the constitution amended empowering the parliament with the authority to remove Supreme Court judges.
Police enforced a vigil on the streets of Dhaka and other major cities but witnesses said few opposition activists were seen trying to bring out marches to enforce the strike in parts of the city where businesses operated almost normally.

However, most of the schools and big shopping malls, remained closed fearing violence, a usual scenario during political shutdowns in Bangladesh.
Police said they have detained six activists of the BNP's student front Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) from Dhaka University campus when they tried to bring out a procession in support of the countrywide stoppage.
"The Chhatra League activists first caught them on suspicion of carrying out subversive activities and they later handed them over to us," a police officer reporters.

The ruling Awami League-led parliament last week passed the 16th amendment bill by 327-0, restoring the provision of original 1972 constitution allowing the parliament to impeach the Supreme Court judges for "misconduct and incapacity" and to make the higher judiciary "accountable" to the legislature.

The BNP, which boycotted the general elections and has no representation in Parliament, opposed the move saying it was intended to "control" the apex court's activities by keeping the judges in a state of "fear".
Several prominent lawyers criticised the move, saying it would expose the legislature to a state of loggerhead with the Supreme Court.
Earlier, Jamaat observed the strike, from 6:00am Sunday and till 6:00am today, protesting Supreme Court verdict of war crimes convict its leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee, whose death sentenced was commuted to life.