Protests spread as thousands of farmers took to the streets across northern Bangladesh yesterday over the shooting deaths of at least five people protesting an open-pit coalmine in the region, officials said. Hundreds of paramilitary and police stood guard outside coalmining firm Asia Energy in Phulbari where security forces allegedly shot into a crowd of protesters Saturday who tried to storm the offices. More than 50 people were injured, police said. At least 10 of the injured are critical and receiving treatment locally, hospital staffers said.