Protests rage in Dhaka over US film

Dhaka, Sep 22 Islamist organisations have called a daylong countrywide strike on Sunday, amid ongoing clashes between its activists and police around the National Press Club area in protest against the anti-Islam film 'Innocence of Muslims' on Saturday.
The clashes erupted around 11am as the police prevented the Islamist organisations from taking out a procession to protest release of the film in the United States, ignoring a ban slapped by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police on any kind of rally and procession over the issue.
Khelafat Majlish Secretary General Maulana Zafar Ullah, also a leader of a coalition of 12 Islamist parties, announced the strike minutes after noon.
Police fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters who pelted stones at the law enforcers in retaliation and set a bike ablaze inside the press club.
Smoke engulfed the press club as the clash continued, sending journalists trapped inside looking for a way out.
Protesters have taken position inside the press club, while the police are on the guard outside.
Islami Oikya Jote Secretary General Abdul Latif Nezami is in the list of the people police arrested during the clashes.
The situation was reported to have slightly calmed down around noon.
The incident comes a day after the DMP banned all rallies and processions in and around the Paltan area from 5pm Friday. The DMP announcement came after Islamist organisation Olama Mashayekh Parishad and 12 others like-minded parties announced programmes in protest against the film.
The police were also reported to have taken position in Kakrail, Dainik Bangla intersection and Bijoynagar areas.
Protests against the film left 19 people killed in Pakistan during clashes with police on Friday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition leader Khaleda Zia urged the US for taking action against those involved in producing 'Innocence of Muslims'.
The government also requested internet search engine Google to block YouTube to prevent viewing of the 13-minute video clip of the movie. The government has already blocked YouTube on its part.