Opposition activists and police have clashed in Bangladesh, injuring at least 50 people at the start of a three-day transport blockade aimed at derailing forthcoming elections.
Hundreds of activists of the Awami League-led opposition alliance boycotting the general election planned for January 22 enforced the blockade in capital, Dhaka.
The blockade came into effect even after the police on Saturday night banned rallies, blockades and other protests.
Troops have been patrolling Dhaka's streets since Saturday, while paramilitary soldiers and Rapid Action Battalion members fanned out across the country to try foil the blockade.
Police used teargas and rubber bullets against stone-throwing, stick-wielding opposition activists.
Witnesses said police were also injured in the clashes in Shyamoli, a residential area of Dhaka
Opposition demand
The alliance said the blockade was aimed at forcing Iajuddin Ahmed, the Bangladesh president, to step down as head of the interim government and force the election commission to announce new poll schedules.
The opposition says Ahmed and the election commissioners are favouring a rival alliance led by Begum Khaleda Zia.
Ahmed, in a statement late on Saturday, said there was no way he or the election commission would delay the ballot because of constitutional constraints.
In a statement, the European Union has said it was "deeply concerned and disappointed by recent developments relating to the parliamentary elections in Bangladesh, in particular the decision by major parties to withdraw from participating on January 22".