DHAKA, July 2: An opposition activist and a policeman were killed and 300 people were injured in clashes in various parts of the country on Sunday.
The clashes erupted during the opposition’s road-rail-waterway blockade programme. The agitation aimed to press home the opposition’s demand for reforms in the caretaker government and the electoral system.
The deceased were identified as Golam Mostafa Milon, a 48-year-old Awami League worker, and Sub-inspector Abul Bashar, 45.
The 14-party opposition alliance has called for fresh agitation, including a 12-hour countrywide work-stoppage on Tuesday, to protest against ‘police atrocity on the opposition leaders and activists’.
More than 200 people were rounded up during the agitation. Motor launches and vehicles were set on fire and barricades were placed at many places.
Milon received rubber bullets fired by police while taking part in a procession here. He died on his way to hospital.
In Narayanganj, Sub-inspector Abul Bashar suffered serious wounds on his head from brickbats during a clash between police and opposition workers on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway. He was taken to a health complex where doctors pronounced him dead. Witnesses said the clash ensued when police fired shots and lobbed teargas shells on the opposition activists who had staged a sit-in on a road.
