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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Violent clashes at Dhaka protest | Violent clashes at Dhaka protest |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Police in the Bangladeshi capital have fired rubber bullets at stone-throwing protesters taking part in a nationwide blockade to force electoral reform. | Police in the Bangladeshi capital have fired rubber bullets at stone-throwing protesters taking part in a nationwide blockade to force electoral reform. |
| Several people were injured in clashes in Dhaka, local media reported. | Several people were injured in clashes in Dhaka, local media reported. |
| The three-day blockade of roads, ports and railways is being organised by an alliance of political parties who want elections set for this month postponed. | The three-day blockade of roads, ports and railways is being organised by an alliance of political parties who want elections set for this month postponed. |
| The Awami League and its allies say they will boycott the 22 January poll, alleging it will not be free and fair. | The Awami League and its allies say they will boycott the 22 January poll, alleging it will not be free and fair. |
| Bangladeshi President Iajuddin Ahmed says the elections will go ahead as planned. | Bangladeshi President Iajuddin Ahmed says the elections will go ahead as planned. |
| The BBC's John Sudworth in Dhaka says this is a constitutional crisis being played out on the streets. | The BBC's John Sudworth in Dhaka says this is a constitutional crisis being played out on the streets. |
| Standstill | Standstill |
| Thousands of security forces were deployed in Dhaka for the first day of the blockade. | Thousands of security forces were deployed in Dhaka for the first day of the blockade. |
| We will shut down the country for weeks if the government goes ahead with holding the elections Abdul Jalil | We will shut down the country for weeks if the government goes ahead with holding the elections Abdul Jalil |
| Police said protesters pelted them with rocks and stones. "Our officers shot tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the mob," a police sub-inspector, Kankan, told the French news agency AFP. | Police said protesters pelted them with rocks and stones. "Our officers shot tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the mob," a police sub-inspector, Kankan, told the French news agency AFP. |
| The blockade has brought Dhaka to a standstill, with schools shut and vehicles absent from the streets. | The blockade has brought Dhaka to a standstill, with schools shut and vehicles absent from the streets. |
| Previous agitation over the issue has led to more than 30 deaths countrywide and the opposition parties say the protests will continue until their demands are met. | Previous agitation over the issue has led to more than 30 deaths countrywide and the opposition parties say the protests will continue until their demands are met. |
| Awami League spokesman Abdul Jalil said: "We will not accept farcical elections. We will shut down the country for weeks if the government goes ahead with holding the elections." | |
| But President Ahmed, head of the caretaker government, said the constitution demanded the polls be held within 90 days, and they would proceed. | But President Ahmed, head of the caretaker government, said the constitution demanded the polls be held within 90 days, and they would proceed. |
| The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led government handed power to the interim administration at the end of October. | The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led government handed power to the interim administration at the end of October. |
| The Awami League said more than 1,000 activists were detained ahead of the protests. | The Awami League said more than 1,000 activists were detained ahead of the protests. |
| Its main demand is that the government use an updated version of the 2000 voter register, and not one created over the past few years. | Its main demand is that the government use an updated version of the 2000 voter register, and not one created over the past few years. |
| The political bloc led by the BNP accuses the Awami League of "sensing defeat" and being determined to sabotage the elections. | The political bloc led by the BNP accuses the Awami League of "sensing defeat" and being determined to sabotage the elections. |