Clashes turn Dhaka into battleground

Bangladeshi police try to detain an activist during a clash in front of the national mosque in Dhaka.

Bangladeshi police try to detain an activist during a clash in front of the national mosque in Dhaka.

Published May 6, 2013

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Dhaka - Seventeen people were killed in clashes between activists and police on Monday as thousands of radical Islamists occupied streets in the Bangladeshi capital, police and hospital sources said.

More than 10 000 police and soldiers advanced late on Sunday to clear demonstrators from a major street in Dhaka. Protesters scattered into side streets and set fire to many shops as they fled.

"Many were seen surrendering with their hands raised and police allowed them to leave the area," police officer Mehedi Hasan said.

Authorities temporarily banned all public gatherings in Dhaka, the Home Ministry said.

Security forces fired rubber bullets, sound grenades and teargas. Fourteen protesters and three police were reportedly killed, officials and police said.

The activists were demanding an anti-blasphemy law providing the death penalty, and vowed to shut down the main business hub.

"We will not leave this place until the government agrees to our demands," said Abdur Rouf, a leader of the radical Hefazat-e-Islam group.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed has said the existing laws have sufficient safeguards to address the protesters' concerns. On Friday, he vowed that the government "will not allow any chaos in the name of Islam, a religion of peace”.

At least 50 people including policemen were injured, a police officer said.

Demonstrators also attacked the headquarters of the ruling Awami League party, torched more than 100 shops and at least 50 parked cars, and vandalised several buildings.

The activists also demanded mandatory religious education and the end to what they described as an "anti-Islam" policy that calls for gender equality. - Sapa-dpa

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