Opposition party members, police clash in Bangladesh, several injured

By SM Najmus Sakib

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – Several people were injured in a clash between members of a major Bangladeshi opposition party and police during a show of solidarity with families of "missing people" in the eastern Habiganj district on Sunday.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) had organized a rally across the country on International Human Rights Day, inviting families of those who have gone "missing" in recent years, whom the party claimed were taken into custody by government agencies.

The police attacked the party leaders and workers when they formed a chain of human hands to show solidarity with the families of "missing people," the party claimed in a statement posted on Facebook.

At least 50 party workers were injured, with some receiving bullet wounds, the party claimed, adding that two journalists were also injured in the police assault.

However, police stated in a counterclaim that 10 police officers were injured in the attack by BNP workers.

Later, at the same sort of protest in the capital Dhaka, party leader Selima Rahman claimed that over 20,000 BNP leaders and supporters had been arrested over the last month.

Relatives who joined the protest demanded the return of their loved ones who were allegedly taken into custody by law enforcement and security forces.

Meanwhile, the BNP has announced a two-day nationwide strike beginning Tuesday, demanding an apolitical caretaker government to hold the upcoming national election on Jan. 7.

The Bangladesh parliament in 2011 abolished the neutral caretaker system.