Dhaka, Mar 3: Bangladesh today deployed army in its north as a fresh wave of violence claimed 21 lives, taking the death toll to about 80, in clashes that have rocked the nation since the conviction of Islamist leaders for 1971 war crimes.
Violence in the country escalated on Thursday when a death sentence was handed down to 73-year-old Delwar Hossain Sayedee, vice-president of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), by International Crimes Tribunal.
A two-day strike called by Jamaat starting today coincided with President Pranab Mukherjee's maiden visit to the country.
Another shutdown has been called by the fundamentalist outfit's alliance partner and main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party led by Khaleda Zia on the last day of the visit by Mukherjee on March 5.
