Two killed, 300 injured as police use force to break blockade

Dhaka, July 2 (UNI) A police officer and an Awami League activist was killed and over 300 people injured in clashes between police, and opposition activists in the capital and other parts of the country during the opposition-sponsored road-rail-waterway blockade The six-hour blockade was enforced across Bangladesh from 0900 hours (local time) by the opposition Awami League-led 14-party combine to mount pressure on the government to accept their proposals on the institution of a caretaker government and on the Election Commission for holding free and fair elections.

The opposition is also demanding resignation of the 3-member EC, headed by Justice M A Aziz for his ''controversial role,'' especially in preparing a new voter list.

Awami League sources said Golam Rasul Milan succumbed to his wounds, as police fired a barrage of teargas shells and rubber bullets at different places to contain the violence. However, the police said his post-mortem examination indicated he died of an heart attack.

Police Sub-Inspector Abul Bashar, who suffered serious head injuries during massive clashes between police and opposition workers on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, on the outskirts of the capital, died at Narayanganj.

Police and opposition activists fought pitched battles in central Dhaka, at Mirpur, Mahakhali, Magbazar and Dhanmondi areas.

The activists damaged a number of passing vehicles and pelted brickbats at police during the clashes.

A Railway official said train services across the country were disrupted as the activists put up barricades at different stations.

In the capital, most schools, shops, business centers and private offices were closed. Traffic movement in the capital was also disrupted as most buses, trucks and private cars went off the streets.

Reports of clashes between the police and opposition workers were received from Kanchpur in Narayanganj, Bajitpur in Bhairab, Bagerhat, Barisal and Chapai Nawabganj, in which more than 100 people were injured.

The authorities had deployed more than 6,000 riot police, armed battalion and BDR personnel to maintain order during the opposition programme.

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