Opposition strike in Bangladesh

Opposition activists try to stop a rickshaw from plying

A half-day strike called by opposition parties in Bangladesh has passed off peacefully.

Many shops and businesses have reopened since the strike ended.

The strike - the latest of many - was to protest at the murder of a lawyer and opposition activist on Sunday and recent increases in the price of petrol.

The nationwide protest was called by an alliance of four opposition parties, led by the Bangladesh National Party (BNP).

The BBC's Daniel Lak, who is in Dhaka, says there had been fears of violence since the strike was called after the murder of BNP activist, Habibur Rahman Mandal.

BNP MPs protested in parliament

BNP president and opposition leader, Begum Khaleda Zia, alleged Mr Mandal's death was part of a "government-led political vendetta".

Several hundred BNP activists demonstrated outside the party headquarters but stopped short of confronting police and their counterparts from the governing parties.

Shut down

Police and paramilitary forces patrolled Dhaka and took up positions at key areas but there was no violence.

Reports say the streets were mostly deserted although a few rickshaws and buses operated.

The country's two stock exchanges - at Dhaka and Chittagong - also stayed shut for the duration of the strike.

Deliveries from the Chittagong port were also affected, according to the Reuters news agency.

Habibur Rahman Mandal was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on Sunday, while on his way to court.

One person has been arrested in connection with the killing.

Lawyers in Dhaka boycotted the courts on Sunday in protest at the killing, together with the killing of another lawyer - Kalida Boral - in a separate incident.