Bangladesh Arrests 7,015 Opposition Activists Over Unrest

              Bangladesh security forces have arrested more than 7,000 opposition activists since the start of deadly protests a fortnight ago, the government said.

Activists have firebombed buses, cars and lorries, killing 29 people, since the opposition called a nationwide transport blockade to protest the detention of their leader Khaleda Zia.

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu told reporters after chairing a cabinet meeting on security in Dhaka that 7,015 people had been arrested in the 15 days since the blockade began.

The crisis began when police confined Zia to her office after she threatened to lead a mass rally against her political rival Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.