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Dhaka siege turns violent, 150 injured

Haroon Habib

Opposition to intensify agitation

DHAKA: More than 150 Opposition leaders and workers, including senior Awami League leaders Mohammad Nasim and Asaduzzman Noor, were injured in police action in Dhaka on Tuesday. Mr. Nasim was hospitalised in a critical condition.

Police swung into action after Opposition leaders and activists tried to push their way past barbed-wire barricades at different points in the city during the 14-party alliance's siege of the Prime Minister's Office.

Demand for reforms

The Awami League-led Opposition alliance carried out the siege programme to demand reforms to the caretaker government system and the Election Commission before the Khaleda Zia Government hands over power to a caretaker government next month. Ms. Khaleda has categorically rejected the opposition demand and vowed to crush any related agitation.

Scores of women activists faced severe police attacks during the siege with the law enforcers kicking and beating them up indiscriminately. Though the injured women were seen screaming for help, none came to help them for fear of the police.

A 13,000-strong force drawn from different agencies, including the paramilitary BDR and Armed Police Battalion, were deployed in Dhaka to face the Opposition activists.

Almost the entire Dhaka turned into a virtual battlefield as angry Awami League activists and police personnel fought pitched battles.

The protesters also attacked police vans with stones and sticks, injuring many policemen. The Opposition's protest programme is likely to intensify on September 18 when the alliance is scheduled to announce its "final programme" against the Government.

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