DHAKA: Police in Bangladesh fired tear gas and lobbed sound grenades on Wednesday to scatter protesters marching to demonstrate against violence that killed at least 150 people this month during student-led agitation against job reservations.
The unrest is the biggest test facing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, 76, since she won a fourth straight term in January elections that were boycotted by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and also marred by deadly protests.
Police said they had to use force when protesters in the northeastern district of Sylhet broke through barricades to head for the courts.
“We requested the protesters to move from the road, but they didn’t listen and instead attacked the police, forcing us to disperse them with tear gas and stun grenades,” said regional deputy commissioner Azbahar Ali Sheikh.
Dhaka, the capital, and Chittagong were among several places where police and protesters scuffled. The number of casualties was not immediately clear, though the media reported some injuries.