Bangladesh: Political demonstrations and general strikes (hartals) in Sylhet in 1997, particularly on 23 March 1997 and 24 August 1997, and on other occasions during that year
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 December 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BGD30635.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Bangladesh: Political demonstrations and general strikes (hartals) in Sylhet in 1997, particularly on 23 March 1997 and 24 August 1997, and on other occasions during that year, 1 December 1998, BGD30635.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aae338.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A 23 March 1997 Reuters report states that the city of Sylhet was among the cities that witnessed violence during the 23 March 1997 "dawn-to-afternoon" strike organized by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in an attempt to "destabilize the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina." More specifically, the BNP staged the strike in order to protest against "the government's failure to provide the basic needs of people in this poor nation and against Hasina's warmer ties with rival India" (ibid.). According to a 25 March 1997 Daily Star article, quoting statements made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a press conference, the Sunday 24 March 1997 BNP countrywide "hartal" was organized to protest against the government's plan to give transit facilities to India.
A nationwide strike was called by the BNP on Sunday 24 August 1997 to protest against fuel price increases in Bangladesh (AFP 24 Aug. 1997a,b). However, the report did not cover the strike in the city of Sylhet.
Other countrywide hartals happened in Bangladesh during 1997:
On 3 July 1997 the BNP called for a half-day national strike to protest against the national budget (The Bangladesh Observer 31 Dec. 1997, 12). No reports were found on the effects of the strike in Sylhet.
On 15 July 1997 a national strike was organized by the Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) and the Jamaat-e-Islami to protest the blasphemy of the holy prophet and the holy Quran by Jews in Israel (ibid.; The Dhaka Courier 28 July 1997, 8-9). No reports were found on the effects of the strike in the city of Sylhet.
Fifty persons were injured on 5 August 1997 during clashes between the police and BNP supporters that took place after hartal-hours in the city of Sylhet (The Bangladesh Observer 6 Aug. 1997, 1-12). At least 20 were injured the next day in the same city during clashes that occurred during the hartal hours (ibid. 7 Aug. 1997, 1). The hartal was called to protest "price hike of essential commodities on BNP leaders and workers." (ibid.). Schools and businesses were closed during strike (ibid.).
The BNP called a general countrywide strike on Thursday, 25 September 1997 to protest government curbs on political rallies (AFP 25 Sept. 1997). No reports were found on the effects of the strike in the city of Sylhet.
Finally, on 7 December 1997, the BNP organized a "dawn-to-dusk" hartal throughout the country to demand the repeal of a peace agreement on the Chittagong Hill Tracts (The Bangladesh Observer 31 Dec. 1997, 12). The hartal was observed peacefully in the city of Sylhet (ibid. 8 Dec. 1997, 1-12).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Agence France Presse (AFP). 25 September 1997. "Bangladesh Opposition Strike Ends Amid Tension." (NEXIS)
_____. 24 August 1997a. "Bangladesh Opposition Strikes Against Fuel Prices Ends Amid Violence." (FBIS-NES-97-236 26 Aug. 1997/WNC)
_____. 24 August 1997b. "Bangladesh: Violence Erupts as Opposition Strikes Against Fuel Prices". (FBIS-NES-97-236 26 Aug. 1997/WNC)
The Bangladesh Observer [Dhaka]. 31 December 1997. " '97 Makes Adieu With 105 Days of Hartals."
_____. 8 December 1997. "50 Including 4 BNP MP's Injured in City: Dawn-to-Dusk Hartal Observed Countrywide."
_____. 7 August 1997. "Police-BNP Clash in Sylhet for the Second Day."
_____. 6 August 1997. "Hartal Called in Sylhet Today: Police-BNP Workers Clash: 50 Injured."
The Daily Star [Dhaka, in English]. 25 March 1997. "Bangladesh: Hasina Says BNP Leaders Engaged in Destructive Activities." (FBIS-NES-97-086 28 Mar. 1997/WNC)
The Dhaka Courier [Dhaka]. 18 July 1997. Vol. 13, No. 51. K. M. Subhan. "Hartal? Why?"
Reuters. 23 March 1997. BC Cycle. Anis Ahmed. "One Killed, Nearly 100 Hurt in Bangladesh Strike." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Electronic Sources : IBR databases, Internet.
Resource Centre Country files: Bangladesh.