At least 50 people were injured in the Bangladeshi capital on Sunday in clashes between police and opposition activists during a demonstration for electoral reforms, police and witnesses said.
The clashes erupted as hundreds of opposition workers pushed through a police barricade and marched to the election commission's office, demanding the resignation of the election commissioner, who they said was biased.
Police fired tear gas shells and used water canons to break up the protest, launched by a 14-party alliance led by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to compel the government to make the election commission more independent before elections next year.
Police said at least 20 opposition workers were detained after they burnt a bus and damaged vehicles during the protest on Sunday, which is a working day in Muslim Bangladesh. Traffic resumed on the streets after opposition activists left the scene, and hundreds of police in riot gear stood guard outside key government buildings, a police officer said later.
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