JI activist dies in BD violence
DHAKA, Aug 14: Clashes between Bangladeshi police and activists supporting a major Islamist opposition political party left one person dead and about 20 injured on Wednesday on the second day of a nationwide general strike, media reported.
Police used night sticks, tear gas and rubber bullets as dozens of protesters belonging to Jamaat-i-Islami tried to march into the streets of Dhaka’s southern Jatrabari suburb, according to Somoy TV and RTV.
Reports said the dead man was a leader of Jamaat’s student wing, but local police chief Rafiqul Islam said he was yet to be identified.
The party called the strike to denounce a court decision that its registration with the election commission is invalid. Because of the court decision, the JI could be barred from taking part in the next elections.—AP