Cops, oppn activists clash in Bangladesh; many hurt

Several police personnel were also injured. Pic/AP

Police in northeastern Bangladesh used batons and tear gas to disperse opposition activists amid a political dispute over who would oversee the next election, which is expected to be held in January, the police on Sunday.

Around 300 people were injured in the clash on Saturday evening, including some with bullets, the country's leading Bengali-language daily newspaper Prothom Alo reported, adding that police had opened fire on supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which is led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

Meanwhile, United News of Bangladesh agency said as many as 150 people including police officers were hurt in the clashes in Habiganj town.

GK Gaus, a local leader in Zia's party, said chaos broke out after thousands of party supporters began marching through the streets. Police confronted them and ordered them to stop. Palash Ranjan Dey, a police official in Habiganj district, said police were forced to take action after opposition activists suddenly attacked them.

Zia's party has been demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the transfer of power to a non-party caretaker government until the next general election. Zia's party and its allies accuse Hasina of vote rigging in 2018 and the party has been protesting over who should oversee the next general election.
Hasina hopes to return to power for a fourth consecutive term.

300
No. of people injured in the clashes

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