Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at thousands of protesters in the Bangladesh capital Sunday as opposition parties began a transport blockade to force the cancellation of January 22 polls. Opposition supporters pelted police with rocks and stones at various locations around the city after thousands took to the streets, prompting officers to retaliate, said sub-inspector Kankan, who uses one name. “Our officers shot tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the mob,” he added.Police did not have any details on the number of injuries but the private Channel I television network said at least 50 people including police officers were hurt in the clashes. The private UNB agency said a further 35 people had been injured at Keranganj on the outskirts of Dhaka after the paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) used batons to break up a demonstration by opposition activists. At least five small bombs also exploded in Dhaka’s old quarter during the protests, although nobody was hurt, said police sub-inspector Iqbal Hayat.
Officers arrested a number of opposition activists during protests in the centre of the capital, assistant police commissioner Anisur Rahman added, without elaborating. Army soldiers were also patrolling the streets in armoured vans in an attempt to prevent further violence, he said.
The opposition called a nationwide transport blockade for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday to try to force the interim government to agree to reforms ahead of the national elections set for January 22. Enforcing the blockade, opposition supporters packed key intersections on the outskirts of the city to prevent vehicles travelling to other main cities.
The opposition says the changes it wants, such as the appointment of new election commission officials, are crucial for free and fair elections which are not stacked in favour of the outgoing Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). “The whole country will be shut down if the government does not stop farcical polls on January 22 and announce a fresh one after carrying out necessary reforms,” opposition spokesman Abdul Jalil said.