More than a dozen people were killed in two days in series of violent clashes between the pro-government and opposition activists across the country.
Ziaul Haq
DHAKA: Bangladesh’s political situation has turned volatile on Sunday before President Iajuddin Ahmed was sworn in as head of an interim caretaker administration as outgoing Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the 14-party combine led by Opposition Leader Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League (AL) have failed to reach a consensus about who would head the three-month interim government to hold the next general election.
More than a dozen people were killed in two days in series of violent clashes between the pro-government and opposition activists across the country. Three people were killed in street violence on Sunday, police said.
Their deaths raise the toll of those killed in the fierce street battles that have been raging since Friday to 22. More than 2,000 people were injured and many houses, political party offices and vehicles were damaged.
Opposition activists continued their agitation in the capital most part of which wore a deserted look as people stayed at home in fear of violence. Train and bus services from Dhaka were disrupted for the second day on Sunday leaving thousands of people, who left Dhaka during Eid holidays, stranded at different places.
The 14-party opposition alliance has been demanding reforms in electoral laws and a neutral, non-party person as head of the interim government. Seven rounds of secretary-general level talks between BNP and AL held earlier this month failed to yield any solution.
The southern port of Chittagong remained idle as the opposition enforced an indefinite strike there. The strike is hitting the country’s $8 billion a year garment export business.
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