Editing Bandh (section)

{{short description|General strike}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
[[File:GNC BANDH-8.jpg|thumb|right|A bandh organized by the [[Garo National Council]] in [[Goalpara]], 2013]]
[[File:Nepali Bandh Protesters.JPG|thumb|right|A bandh in Nepal, organized protest against a rise in fuel prices]]
'''Bandh''' ({{langx|hi|बंध, बंद|bandh, band|lit=closing; shutting down}}) is a form of protest used by political activists in [[South Asia]]n countries such as [[India]] and [[Nepal]]. It is similar to a [[general strike]]. During a bandh, a political party or a community declare a [[general strike]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Will Bharat Bandh shut Mumbai down on Thursday?|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/will-bharat-bandh-shut-mumbai-down-on-thursday-216790|access-date=30 May 2012|newspaper=NDTV|date=28 May 2012}}</ref> For example, a ''[[Bharat (term)|Bharat]] bandh'' is a call for a bandh across India, and a bandh can also be called for an individual state or municipality.

The community or political party declaring a bandh expects the general public to stay at home and not report for work. Shopkeepers are expected to keep their shops closed, and public transport operators are expected to stay off the road. There have been instances when large cities have been brought to a standstill.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bengaluru to shut on Bharat Bandh|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/bengaluru/bengaluru-shut-bharat-bandh-946|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601192259/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/bengaluru/bengaluru-shut-bharat-bandh-946|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 June 2012|access-date=30 May 2012|newspaper=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref> A bandh is a form of [[civil disobedience]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Bharat Bandh on May 31 against UPA's petrol bomb|url=http://in.news.yahoo.com/bharat-bandh-on-may-31-against-upa-s-petrol-bomb.html|access-date=30 May 2012|newspaper=Yahoo News}}</ref>