Three killed, several hurt in Bangla clashes

Dhaka, Oct 27 (UNI) Three people, including two political leaders, were killed while several others were injured in widespread clashes between supporters of the ruling BNP and opposition Awami League in various parts of Bangladesh, including the capital, today.

Police said BNP leader Sheikh Habibullah was killed and two were seriously injured when bombs were hurled at their procession tonight in Brahmanbaria town, about 150 kms from here. Mr Habibullah was the vice-president of Brahmanbaria Distict BNP and general secretary of the District Bar Association.

In another incident Jamaat Gazipur District leader Ruhul Amin was killed and two others were injured when opposition workers attacked and burnt their office tonight. Jamaat is an ally of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's ruling 4-party alliance.

A young man, Mohammad Aslam who had suffered bullet injuries yesterday during a clash in Dhamrai of Dhaka district succumbed at Dhaka Medical College Hospital in the afternoon, today.

In an upsurge of hostilities including widespread rioting and arson in the capital, the supporters of BNP and Awami League clashed leaving 15 people wounded, in old Dhaka, police added.

Opposition workers burnt the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami offices in Dhaka and Gazipur. They also laid siege to the Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Chittagong highways.

The opposition led by Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina has been demanding replacement of the Chief Advisor of the interim caretaker government accusing him of being a loyalist to the incumbent.

But the outgoing government insists on former Chief Justice KM Hasan in the Chief Advisor's role for elections slated for January.

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