Skip to main content
BBCi   NEWS   SPORT   WEATHER   WORLD SERVICE   A-Z INDEX    SEARCH 

WATCH/LISTEN TO BBC NEWS
RELATED SITES
Sport
Weather
On This Day
LANGUAGES
Urdu
Hindi
Bengali
Pashto
Nepali
Tamil
Sinhala
Last Updated: Tuesday, 26 August, 2003, 11:39 GMT 12:39 UK
Thousands at Bangladesh funeral
Sheikh Hasina Wajed
Awami leader Sheikh Hasina Wajed blamed the government
Thousands of people have attended the funeral of an opposition leader who was shot dead in the south-western Bangladesh city of Khulna on Monday.

The president of the Awami League in the city, Manzurul Imam, was shot dead while travelling in a rickshaw. The rickshaw puller also died.

The banned left-wing Purbo Banglar Communist Party (Janojuddha) has claimed responsibility.

The killings sparked a riot by Awami League supporters who attacked offices of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the homes of its leaders.

Thousands gathered at the home of Mr Imam in Khulna on Tuesday to view the body before its burial in the family graveyard.

Black flags flew over buildings and many shops and schools remained closed. No further violence was reported.

Nine arrested

The Awami League has called a one-day nationwide strike on Thursday.

Party official Abdus Samad Azad said: "We urge people from all walks of life to join the strike to express their indignation over the killing and demonstrate their anger over growing lawlessness."

Party leader Sheikh Hasina Wajed arrived in Khulna on Tuesday demanding those responsible be tracked down and put on trial.

She said the government of Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was responsible for Mr Imam's death.

"Such a situation cannot continue. The whole country is now under the handhold of killers, rapists, dacoits and looters let loose by Khaleda Zia," she said.

Mrs Zia's BNP denied any responsibility and ministers condemned the killings.

Two other people were hurt in Monday's shooting - one is still in a serious condition.

Police say they have arrested nine people and seized from them a gun and Purbo Banglar posters.

In a fax to local newspapers, Purbo Banglar said it had carried out the killing because Mr Imam, a lawyer, was a "class enemy".



LINKS TO MORE SOUTH ASIA STORIES


 

SEE ALSO:
Country profile: Bangladesh
15 Jul 03  |  Country profiles
Arrests over Bangladesh police deaths
04 Jul 03  |  South Asia
Mass arrests after Bangladesh bombs
12 Mar 03  |  South Asia
Bangladesh arrests Muslim militants
12 Mar 03  |  South Asia


RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

TOP SOUTH ASIA STORIES NOW

E-mail services | Desktop ticker | News on mobiles/PDAs


Back to top ^^

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia
UK | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology | Health
Have Your Say | Country Profiles | In Depth | Programmes
BBCi Homepage >> | BBC Sport >> | BBC Weather >> | BBC World Service >>
Help | Feedback | News sources | Privacy | About the BBC
banner watch listen bbc sport Americas Africa Europe Middle East South Asia Asia Pacific