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Main opposition party in Bangladesh begins three day strike

by Reuters

Bangladesh's main opposition party -- the BNP -- launched a three-day strike on Sunday.

It's demanding a caretaker government during the nation's upcoming national elections.

Former Prime Minister and Party chairperson Khaleda Zia says there'll be no election while the current Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, is still in charge.

BNP Join Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi:

SOUNDBITE JOINT SECRETARY OF THE BNP RUHUL KABIR RIZVI SAYING:

"Begum Khaleda Zia has called for a 60-hour strike. This strike has been called to demand the setting up of an independent and impartial government. We have been demanding for a long time but [the] government has not accepted it."

The ruling Awami League Party has decided to oppose the strike, by organizing its own rallies.

The mounting tension threatens Bangladesh's $22 billion garment export industry.

It's the economic lifeblood of this developing nation of 160 million people;

a country that's already been rocked by a string of deadly factory accidents over the past year.

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