DHAKA, 8 April 2006 — Four people were killed and about 50 injured in northwestern Bangladesh when farmers protesting frequent power outages clashed with ruling party activists, police said yesterday.
The violence occurred on Thursday evening at Shibganj village in Chapainawabganj district, 230 kilometers northwest of Dhaka, a local police official said.
Dozens of homemade bombs were used in clashes between farmers — members of the Shibganj Rural Electrification Development Association — and activists of the Bangladesh’s ruling party over power shortage.
Three of the dead were identified as Mahbubul Alam of Nayalabhanga Union, Akram Dad Khan of Salimabad and Abdul Jilani of Lahalamari, Kansat.
More than 5,000 people were involved in the clashes. Both sides used homemade bombs, meat cleavers and sticks, said the official on condition of anonymity.
He said police recovered the bodies of four men following about three hours of fighting that stopped after baton-wielding police arrived. At least 20 injured people were being treated at the local hospital. Police had fired tear gas to end the melee and six people had been arrested, he added. “So far we have three dead including two BNP men and one farmer. All the injured people have been sent to different hospitals in the region,” Shibganj police sub-inspector Abdul Quddus told AFP earlier by phone.
Tohurul Islam, chairman of the local government council, said a fourth man, a farmer, had also been killed.
