Police have charged at least 28 opposition activists in Bangladesh, after a series of bombings in the capital.

Several small bombs exploded in Dhaka on Sunday, two of which targeted government officials. There were no reports of injuries.

The violence took place as members of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party continued a nationwide strike to protest the disappearance of one of its regional leaders, Ilias Ali, who has been missing for nearly two weeks. Rights groups blame security agencies for his disappearance, but authorities deny involvement.

Ali's wife on Monday said she wants to meet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to discuss her husband's disappearance.

Also Monday, police raided the home of a senior opposition leader, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and accused him of instigating the violence the day before. In addition to the bomb explosions, protesters smashed vehicles in the capital.

Meanwhile, schools and businesses remained closed in Dhaka and other cities on Monday as the general strike called by the BNP continued for a second day. Last week, the opposition enforced three days of general strikes calling for Ali to be found.

Bangladeshi analyst Debapriya Bhattacharya tells VOA that the continuous strike has a tremendous impact on the country's economy.

He says, “one obvious area is the exports and imports because of the dislocations in the transport system. It also affects, in a large way, the public expenditure program, which is heavily backloaded towards the end of the fiscal year, and the end is just starting. It also creates a serious disincentive for the foreign direct investors.”

Bhattacharya says the shutdown also has social implications, with schools closed and students unable to take exams.