DHAKA, 22 April 2004 — Police in Bangladesh fired tear gas and used batons yesterday to disperse opposition activists preparing to besiege a party office of Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

Police fired at least 12 rounds of tear gas shells, injuring about 10 people. They also arrested thousands of political activists in a nationwide crackdown on Awami League supporters, officials said yesterday.

Police and auxiliary forces rounded up at least 3,000 opposition supporters overnight in Dhaka amidst rising political tensions between the ruling Nationalist-Islamist coalition and the secular opposition led by the Awami League. Opposition sources claimed 2,500 others were rounded up in the southern port city of Chittagong and Rajshahi city in the north.

“We have orders from the Home Ministry not to show any indulgence to troublemakers,” said a police officer who declined to be identified. “We will do everything necessary not to let law and order lapse further.”

Police intercepted the opposition activists in the areas of Gulistan, Paltan, Motijheel and Shaheed Minar in the capital in the afternoon. “Police looked determined not to allow many people to gather,” said a witness. The Awami League, headed by former Prime Minister Hasina Wajed, has asked Khaleda — who is only halfway through a five-year elected term — to resign by April 30 and to test her popularity in an early election.

Khaleda has refused and has vowed to punish anyone trying to stir up protests. Authorities tightened security on the streets and avenues around Khaleda’s office at “Hawa Bhaban”, in the city’s Banani area, from which she often runs the activities of her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Witnesses said police virtually besieged the central office of the Awami League at Gulistan and also guarded strategic points in the city in a bid to keep opposition activists off the streets.

“The security was almost invincible,” said Asaduzzaman Noor, a spokesman for the Awami League and a member of Parliament. “But we are determined to pursue our plan and will see how far we can go.”