Strikes may cause disruptions

The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will hold a large-scale rally against the ruling Awami League-led government in the Paltan Maidan area of Dhaka on 19 May 2010. BNP leader and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia plans to use the event to launch a campaign to unseat the government. There has been some internal debate within the BNP about whether the party should resort to hartals (strikes) and other disruptive actions such as those employed by the "red shirt" protesters in Thailand. However, party officials have ruled out such measures, as they would likely prove economically costly and undermine domestic support. Travelers and expatriates in Dhaka should anticipate widespread transportation disruptions. Travelers should avoid areas where protests are occurring, as clashes between protesters and security forces are possible.