More violence as blockade again grips Bangladesh

Dhaka, Dec 3: Clashes broke out between rival political activists across Bangladesh again today as the fourth transport blockade in as many weeks gripped the country just weeks ahead of elections.

One man was killed and 30 were injured in the latest spate of violence.

President Iajuddin Ahmed called his council of advisers to a special meeting to try to resolve the stalemate between longtime rivals Sheikh Hasina, head of the Awami League, and Begum Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

''The meeting has been convened to consider demands of the two major alliances,'' a spokesman for the presidential palace said.

Adviser Mahbubul Alam, head of the information ministry, said ''we expect to evolve a deal acceptable to both camps''.

Hasina and Khaleda met the president and his council of advisers late on Saturday. But they failed to resolve the stalemate.

Hasina's 14-party alliance demands the removal of controversial election officials and says voting lists for the January poll are flawed.

A US-based election monitor said on Saturday the voters' list contained 12.2 million false names.

''This is incorrect,'' acting chief election commissioner Mahfuzur Rahman told US envoy Patricia A Butenis when she met him today to discuss the issue.

''Some adjustments (in the list) may be required ... if (false names) can be detected specifically,'' Rahman added.

Khaleda ended her five-year tenure as prime minister late in October, handing over power to a caretaker authority. The constitution dictates a general election must be held within three months of the change over.

Witnesses said road links between the capital Dhaka and the port city of Chittagong, as well as other main cities, were paralysed as the latest blockade took hold early today, a working day in mainly Muslim Bangladesh.

Riot police and paramilitary troops patrolled the streets and guarded key buildings in the city of 10 million people.

One man was killed and 20 injured in clashes in Biswanath, near Sylhet city 350 km northeast of Dhaka, witnesses said.

At least 10 people were hurt when police used clubs to disperse activists attacking vehicles in Dhaka's Paltan area.

REUTERS

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