Saturday, August 20 2005 13:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dhaka: A nationwide opposition-sponsored general strike to protest the Wednesday bombings by suspected Islamic extremists gripped Bangladesh today (August 20, 2005), hours after Prime Minister Khaleda Zia returned home cutting short her visit to China.

Amid security clampdown following the unprecedented bombings, the one-day strike called by the 14-party alliance led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed's Awami League paralysed much of the country. The Communist Party of Bangladesh separately also called for the shut down.

No inter-district buses were operating and schools, private offices and banks were shut too. Few vehicles were seen on the streets of Dhaka. Zia, who was on a five-day official visit to China, returned home early today cutting short her visit due to the bombings that left two people dead and nearly 150 injured.

The Prime Minister had condemned the bombings as a "heinous, cowardly, conspiratorial and well-planned act of terrorism". She also appealed for calm and ordered security agencies to crack down on suspects. Islamic extremists are believed to be responsible for the bombings, according to media reports. Police and security forces were patrolling the capital city in strength.