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One dead, 61 hurt as Bangladesh protests turn violent
Life came to a virtual standstill as thousands of opposition party workers took out protest marches as part of a general strike.
At least one person was dead and 61 others injured as protests by opposition parties over demand for electoral reforms turned violent in Bangladesh on Monday.
Life came to a virtual standstill in the country as thousands of opposition party workers took out protest marches as part of a general strike, which entered its second day.
Activists of opposition Awami League-led 14-party alliance blocked road, rail and waterways to press for electoral reforms and the resignation of Chief Justice MA Aziz.
One person was killed and another critically injured after being hit by a police vehicle during clashes between protestors and security personnel in Kauran Bazar area of capital Dhaka.
While one was confirmed dead, another was in a critical condition, Dhaka Medical College hospital sources said.
In another incident, 60 people were injured when four bogies of a passenger train derailed in northwestern Myemensingh district after protestors removed the rail tracks, private ATN TV reported.
The capital Dhaka was virtually cut off from the rest of the country with inter-district buses, ferries and trains remaining out of operation.
President Iajuddin Ahmed and his caretaker government's council of advisors are scheduled to meet again after their inconclusive talks last night.
The Home Ministry had on Sunday night issued directives saying the government has decided to deploy the army.
But late midnight it clarified that no such decision has been taken but the army would be deployed if the situation so demanded.
The alliance action comes after a second ultimatum to President Ahmed to prove his administration's neutrality expired Saturday.
Former army chief and power adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Hashan Mashud Chowdhury said the crisis might be over within the next three to five days.
The Opposition wants Aziz out for his alleged bias towards Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Aziz has refused to quit so far.
