Police and witnesses said all public transport in Chittagong and the surrounding districts was affected causing major disruption.

The dawn-to-dusk protest strike, called by the Chittagong chapter of the Bangladesh Transport Workers Federation, halted the movement of goods to and from the country's main sea port and resulted in the cancellation of bus services to capital Dhaka and other cities, they said.

But private vehicles were allowed to operate on Friday, a weekly holiday in Bangladesh.

Further anti-war protests by Islamist and other groups are due to take place after Friday prayers in Dhaka, where last week American offices came under attack.

Bangladesh, the world's third largest Muslim majority country, has repeatedly called for an end to the war and has seen almost daily anti-US and anti-war protests.

SPACE.WIRE