(2 Feb 1996) Natural Sound
There have been violent clashes between anti-government protesters and police in the capital of Bangladesh.
Trouble erupted at a university campus in Dhaka, where Prime Minister Khaleda Zia opened a book fair.
At least 50 people and six officers were injured.
It all started peacefully enough but ended in violence.
Students opposed to the present government staged a sit-down protest near the venue of a book fair Prime Minister Khaleda Zia opened amid tight security.
When the students tried to storm the exhibition site on Thursday, police moved in.
They repeatedly fired bullets and tear gas shells to try and stop them.
Even though most of the protesters dispersed, some took positions behind walls and fired sawn-off rifles and pistols, witnesses said.
At least 50 opposition activists were injured and six policemen were taken to hospital with bullet wounds.
The protest was targeted against Mrs. Zia, who is under pressure from the main opposition parties to quit and transfer power to a neutral caretaker figure before elections later this month
The opposition parties are boycotting the elections, saying they will not be free and fair so long as Mrs Zia remains in power.
Thursday's violence also spread beyond the campus after opposition activists clashed with police in downtown Dhaka.
The protesters burned or smashed at least a dozen vehicles, including one passenger bus.
The largest opposition group, the Awami League and its allies have planned a general strike for Dhaka Saturday in protest
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