DHAKA - Two people were killed and nearly 50 injured as clashes intensified between Bangladesh political rivals over elections in January. Police said the clashes involved activists of Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of Begum Khaleda Zia, both former prime ministers.One of the victims died in Chittagong port city and the other in coastal Patuakhali district. At least 10 people were hurt in clashes there, witnesses said.
Several home-made bombs went off at the Dhaka University as Awami and BNP students sought to tighten respective control on the 50,000-strong campus. Police said no one was hurt but tension was high. But some 40 students were injured in fighting between rival groups at Jagannath University, in the crowded old Dhaka area, witnesses said.
Police said they feared more violence as a pro-Awami Jubo (youth) League called for protests outside DhakaÂ’s presidential palace on Saturday afternoon.
A 14-party alliance led by Hasina and a United Front which included dissidents of the BNP have called for a siege to force countryÂ’s interim government to fire key election commission officials, including acting chief Mahfuzur Rahman. Rahman took over earlier this week after his boss, chief election commissioner M.A. Aziz went on three monthsÂ’ leave to defuse mounting pressure from HasinaÂ’s alliance for his dismissal.
The Awami League and its allies said on Saturday they would not take part in an election under Rahman.