Thousands attend funeral in Dhaka
About 30,000 people have turned out in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, for the funeral of a senior opposition politician killed in a grenade attack.

Ivy Rahman, who headed the women's wing of the main opposition Awami League, was buried with full state honours.

She died of injuries sustained in Saturday's attack on a Dhaka rally, which killed at least 17 others. Party leader Sheikh Hasina escaped unhurt.

Security was tight for the funeral, one of Bangladesh's biggest in years.

Threat

Correspondents say people from all walks of life took part in the peaceful procession, which took place despite heavy rain.

Thousands of police and paramilitary soldiers were deployed along the 10km (six-mile) funeral route.

Don't think Sheikh Hasina is out of danger. Tell her to be prepared. We are coming
Hikmatul Zihad group

A two-day strike called by the Awami League ended at 1300 local time (0700 GMT) on Wednesday.

Shops remained shuttered and streets were almost empty in response to the strike call.

Dozens of opposition protesters were arrested and some hurt after clashes with security forces on Tuesday.

On Wednesday a fresh threat to Sheikh Hasina's life was issued, apparently by a little-known Islamic group which said it was behind the grenade attack.

"Don't think Sheikh Hasina is out of danger. We missed our previous chance," the Hikmatul Zihad said in an e-mail message to the Prothom Alo newspaper.

"Tell her to be prepared. We are coming."

Home Minister Lutfozzaman Babor said he took the threat "very seriously" and the authorities were trying to trace the e-mail's origin.

Grenades were thrown and shots fired in Saturday's attack on the Awami League rally in the capital.

Sheikh Hasina's supporters have called for Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to step down.

The Zia administration has denied allegations from the opposition that it had links with the Islamic militants some media reports have accused of carrying out the attacks.

Spate of bombings

The attack was the latest in a series of blasts in Bangladesh this year, including one which killed an Awami League leader in the town of Sylhet on 7 August.

The rally in Dhaka had been called in protest at the attack in Sylhet.

Analysts say the recent spate of bomb attacks in Bangladesh suggests law and order has broken down in the country.

The Awami League and its allies have called for more demonstrations across the country on Thursday.