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50 hurt in Bangladesh skirmishes
amid Opposition Strike
'Pakistan Times' Wire Service
DHAKA: Police fired rubber
bullets and tear gas at thousands of protesters in the Bangladesh capital
Sunday as opposition parties began two-day transport blockade to try to
force electoral reform ahead of polls.
Opposition supporters pelted police with rocks and stones after thousands
took to the streets, prompting officers to retaliate, said a police
sub-inspector.
"Our officers shot tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the mob," he
added.
Police did not have any details on the number of injuries but a private
television network said at least 50 people including police officers were
hurt in the clashes.
At least five small bombs also exploded in Dhaka's old quarter during the
protests, although nobody was hurt, another private news channel reported.
Officers arrested a number of opposition activists during the protests in
the centre of the capital.
Army soldiers were also patrolling the streets in armoured vans in an
attempt to prevent further violence, police said.
The opposition called a nationwide transport blockade for Sunday, Monday and
Tuesday to try to force the interim government to agree to reforms ahead of
the national elections set for January 22.
Dhaka's usually bustling streets were empty of cars and buses on Sunday, a
working day in Muslim-majority Bangladesh. Schools and colleges were shut.
Security has intensified nationwide in preparation for the blockades with
13,000 policemen guarding important streets and locations in Dhaka alone.
Normal life was also at a standstill in the southeastern port city of
Chittagong where government offices, schools and businesses were closed and
the army was deployed to ensure that cargo could reach the country's main
port.●
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