Bangladesh protests turn violent

Dhaka – Police in Bangladesh have fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse protesters staging blockades across the country as part of an opposition campaign for an independent caretaker administration to oversee next year’s national election.


At least two people were killed and dozens hurt across Bangladesh on Sunday when police and ruling party activists clashed with opposition protesters.


Police and witnesses said supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, and its allies set ablaze about 30 buses, trucks and cars in the capital Dhaka and other parts of the country.


Demonstrators threw scores of small hand-made bombs, burnt tyres and vehicles.


Officials say police arrested scores of protesters at the rallies Sunday, staged to call for the restoration of a voting system in which independent caretaker governments oversee national elections.


Authorities say police in Dhaka, the Bangladesh capital, have used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse road-blocking protesters at demonstrations across the city.


Officials say police clashed with demonstrators after the protesters attacked vehicles with homemade bombs.


The demonstrators want the caretaker system reinstated for the next round of national polls.


The voting system was scrapped by the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.


Source: The Times Of Earth