US embassy cable - 05DHAKA550

UNCLAS DHAKA 000550 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, BG 
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH STRIKE SITREP 
 
 
Sensitive but unclassified. 
 
1. (SBU) The Awami League's 36-hour hartal (strike) program 
that ended February 6 left one police officer dead, three 
other officers injured, 80 civilians hurt and 500 arrested in 
scattered incidents throughout the country, according to 
reports. In Dhaka, police used tear gas and clubs to disperse 
gathered AL processions in several areas throughout the city 
or to restrict protesters to certain areas.  Media reported 
that several buses were set afire, and dozens of vehicles 
were damaged. 
 
2. (SBU) After the 36-hour hartal, the AL announced a 
continued program of hartals in three cities for February 7. 
After complaints from business owners, the Awami League 
reduced its planned 3-day hartal in Chittagong to an eight 
hour, 0600 to 1400 strike. Sources said that while most 
stores remained closed, there were greater numbers of 
rickshaws and cars compared to previous hartals and that 
there were few efforts by picketers to enforce the hartal. 
As of 1600 local, in Rangamati, located 300 kilometers east 
of Dhaka, the strike was peaceably observed, while in Sylhet 
the hartal was ignored. 
 
3. (SBU) Awami League Organizing Secretary, Akhtar 
Ahktaruzzaman, said the hartals are "working." When asked 
about the level of violence, he claimed that the government 
is hiring "hooligans" to instigate confrontations so that the 
AL would be "blamed." He said that the AL would announce a 
continued political program tomorrow. 
THOMAS