Germany Condemns Attack on Opposition Party

Germany's Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer has sharply condemned this weekend's attack on a Bangladeshi opposition party rally in the capital Dhaka which killed some 19 people and injured several hundred. Jennifer Macey reports

Security was high in, Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital on Monday with many schools and colleges closed. The opposition Awami party held demonstrations in the city and called for a general strike to protest the attack.

Police were still on high alert in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka following this weekend's grenade attack on an opposition party rally which killed some 19 people and injured over 300.

Assassination attempt on opposition leader

On Saturday, as leader of the opposition Awami party, Sheikh Hasina was addressing a political rally more than a dozen grenades were thrown into the crowd. She escaped serious injury and was quoted as saying it was an assassination attempt.

Many schools and colleges were closed on Monday and workers stayed away from their offices in the capital.

Police found an unexploded grenade at the Railway Hawkers Market not far from the site of Saturday's explosion and another was discovered in the Dhaka city prison. Eight people have been arrested in connection with the attack.

Supporters of the Awami party took to the streets all over the country clashing with police while in Bhrairab, 80 kilometres east of Dhaka an angry mob set fire to a train pulling into the station, injuring 20 people.

Islamic fundamentalists behind the attacks?

The secular and progressive Awami party blames unnamed Islamic fundamentalist groups of targeting members. In May the British envoy to Bangladesh was killed in a grenade attack while earlier this month an Awami party leader was killed in a grenade attack in the northern town of Sylhet and this Saturday's rally was called to protest against the explosions.

Awami party leader, Ms Hasina has accused the government of not doing enough to investigate the incidents and suggested the government may have been involved in the attack.

The ruling Bangladesh Nationalist party or BNP whose four-way coalition contains two Islamic fundamentalist groups, has denied the allegation and vowed to find the culprits.

Rejection of offer of sympathy

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia strongly condemned the blasts and offered to meet with the opposition to express her sympathy however the Awami party said they had rejected the offer.

There were widespread international reactions with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer condemning the attack and saying everything needs to be done to find those responsible.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell telephoned Ms Hasina last night condemning what he called the horrific attack.

The Awami party has accused the government of corruption, incompetence and harassing political opponents and has called for a two day general strikes to begin today, Tuesday, 24 August.

Jennifer Macey