DACCA: The Opposition Maoist National Aw­­ami Party … said today [May 21] that one man was killed, 12 injured, four “kidnapped” and seven arrested in a series of clashes be­­tween NAP followers and Government suppo­rters during an eight-hour nationwide strike called by the NAP. The strike was observed to back a “fast unto death” by its leader, Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani.

Maulana Bhashani was admitted to hospital today in “precarious condition” on the seventh day of his hunger strike to force the ruling Awami League party to accept his three-point demand, which includes drastic reduction in food prices, end of repression of the Opposition and improvement of law and order.

Mr Bhashani has resisted all demands from leaders of the ruling party, including Premier Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who visited him on the second day of his hunger strike, and urged him to end his strike. He told a local news agency yesterday: “This is my last statement.” … NAP sources said pro-government men known as ‘Mujib Bahini’ rode in vehicles and fired at several NAP supporters and allegedly used strong arm tactics to break up the strike. — News agencies

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2023