DHAKA, Sept 6: At least 50 people were injured as activists of the opposition combine, marching towards the Election Commission, fought running battles with police here on Wednesday.

Besides, sporadic clashes between opposition demonstrators and police during besieging of election offices at divisional headquarters left another 100 people injured.

The opposition alliance, led by the Awami League, had called the programme to press its demand for reforms in the system of caretaker government, the Election Commission, and also resignation of election commissioners, including the chief election commissioner.

Another opposition combine, Jatiya Oikya Front, comprising the Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Jatiya Oikya Mancha and the Bangladesh Tariquat Federation, had also called a simultaneous programme of siege the Election Commission.

In Dhaka, baton-wielding police swung into action when protesters marching towards the Election Commission office attempted to break through barbed wire barriers in front of Rapa Plaza at about 12:30pm.

The angry demonstrators threw stones at police who charged batons indiscriminately leaving injured a number of people, including Awami League leaders Saber Hossain Chowdhury, AKM Rahmatullah and Mohammad Selim.

Local people said police assaulted Chowdhury, a former lawmaker and now political secretary to the leader of the opposition in parliament, kicking and striking him with batons.

The opposition activists then split up and retreated to different roads, and regrouped again. The area then turned into a virtual battle field.