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DHAKA - One man was knocked to death by a police car and at least 50 others were wounded in clashes with police yesterday as protesters besieged Bangladesh's main cities over a political crisis that showed no sign of abating.
The latest casualties were in the capital Dhaka and enraged protesters set at least four vehicles ablaze and damaged several others, witnesses said.
Protest leaders alleged police deliberately drove the car through the crowd, and appeared to be letting the situation deteriorate so the army could be called in.
Clashes were reported from different areas of the capital, where police used batons and fired rubber bullets to disperse the protesters.
The crisis over opposition demands for the ouster of the country chief election commission ahead of January elections has shown no sign of easing.
A man was killed and 50 others wounded on Sunday, the first day of a transport strike called by the opposition which also shut down ports.
Witnesses said supporters of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has accused election commissioners of bias, massed on the outskirts of Dhaka, Chittagong and other cities on Monday despite a police ban on rallies.
Operations at Bangladesh's main Chittagong port were halted by the opposition action. More than 60 foreign and local merchant ships have been stranded at berths and the outer anchorage over the past two days.
The caretaker government of President Iajuddin Ahmed said it would deploy the army, if needed, to keep order.
The 14-party alliance led by Awami League leader Hasina wants the president to sack Chief Election Commissioner M A Aziz and his deputies, saying they are being partial towards the Bangladesh Nationalist Party of Begum Khaleda Zia, who ended her five-year term as prime minister last month.
Hasina and her allies said they will maintain the blockade until the commissioners are removed or resign.
According to the constitution, the election chief cannot be removed unless he voluntarily quits, but legal experts say the government can ask him to leave if it is in the national interest.
Aziz, a retired Supreme Court judge, has refused to quit. BNP officials threatened to launch a "counter-protest" if the Awami League did not call off the transport blockade soon.
Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil said on Sunday he hoped troops would not get involved.
"The country's law and order situation has not reached a level where the army's intervention is needed," he said.
"I hope our patriotic armed forces will refuse to be used for political purposes or to protect interest of one group, at the cost of people's rights."
Bangladeshis consider the army as a neutral force, though they have occasionally intervened in domestic politics.
Bangladesh is also one of the largest contributors to international peacekeeping missions.
At least 30 people have been killed in political violence since Khaleda was constitutionally obliged to resign.
- REUTERS
