DHAKA, Dec 15: Hundreds of supporters loyal to a former Bangladeshi military strongman went on a rampage on Friday after a court upheld a verdict against him in a corruption case, police said on Friday.

A high court confirmed late on Thursday that a lower court verdict finding General Hussain Mohammad Ershad guilty of squandering state funds in the purchase of patrol boats from Japan but cut his sentence to two years from three.

Ershad, who ruled Bangladesh between 1982 and 1990, is the leader of the Jatiya Party, the third biggest party in the outgoing parliament.

The high court ruling makes his participation in the January 23 polls uncertain, lawyers said.

At least 300 supporters loyal to Ershad protested the verdict and barricaded a key highway near the northern Bangladesh city of Sylhet, local police chief Abu Maruf said.—AFP