DHAKA, Oct 16: The white uniforms of more than 100 nurses were stained red as police used clubs and teargas shells on the nurses, both student and unemployed, who were demonstrating for jobs in downtown Dhaka on Thursday.

Some 1,000 students and unemployed nurses in groups from all over the country flocked to the Motijheel commercial area where the nursing directorate is housed and became embroiled in a pitched battle with the police when they tried to besiege the building.

Earlier, the demonstrating nurses had announced a sit-in in front of the directorate and a heavy police contingent was deployed around the building to prevent the demonstrators from encircling or entering it.

This is the second time the nurses have come under police attack since they called a strike on Oct 7. On Oct 8 police batoncharged a procession, injuring at least 20 nurses.