DHAKA, 1 May 2006 — At least 70 people were injured in clashes between rival Bangladeshi groups yesterday during a nationwide protest against electricity shortages, police and witnesses said.
Police fired tear gas shells and used batons on opposition activists, witnesses said. The violence erupted in northwestern Sirajganj town, 150 kilometers from the capital Dhaka, when opposition activists were marching toward an electricity supply office.
The march was part of countrywide protest called by a 14-party opposition alliance led by the Awami League of former Prime Minister Hasina Wajed.
“The opposition supporters became unruly and hurled stones at us, prompting us to lob tear gas and use batons to disperse them,” Abdul Jabbar, area police chief, told AFP. Police said the area around the electricity office became a battlefield, with ruling party supporters attacking the opposition supporters led by the Awami League with stones and sticks.
“At least 10 policemen including myself were injured in the clashes,” Jabbar said, adding that dozens overall were hurt.
The Awami League and its 13 opposition allies also held demonstrations in all major cities and towns yesterday to protest at inadequate power supplies. Leaders of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Awami League blamed each other for the clash, which started when opposition activists pushed through a police barricade. The opposition called the protest to highlight growing electricity shortages across the country that have triggered often violent demonstrations in past months.
Cyclone Moves to Myanmar
Bangladesh escaped the wrath of cyclone Mala that moved north-northeastward and lashed the Arakan coast of Myanmar.
Mala, a category-4 storm, lost intensity after it made landfall and moved inland through Rakhine state of Myanmar.
