Bangladesh opposition supporters clash with police

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) supporters clashed with the police here on Wednesday, demanding a level playing field in the upcoming national elections and release of their leader and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia from jail.

The BNP supporters marched towards their party office in a pre-election showdown in the capital. They vandalized several vehicles and clashed with the police with brickbats in front of their headquarters at Naya Paltan, bdnews24.com reported.

Dozens of people including law enforcers and BNP activists were injured.

Television footage showed the fighting and opposition activists reportedly setting fire to a police van and several private cars in the area.

Additional Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Monirul Islam said that BNP leaders and activists engaged themselves in violence "without any provocation". - IANS