Bangladesh Opposition vowed to continue its nationwide blockade as three more people were killed in the violence after the first anniversary of the controversial polls, raising uncertainty over the annual Muslim congregation, said to be the second largest after Haj, scheduled to begin on Friday.
Two BNP activists were killed as thousands of supporters of Opposition party chief Khaleda Zia, who has been confined to her office since Saturday, clashed with police late on Wednesday in southeastern Noakhali.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party alleged that the two activists were killed in police firing but police said they were killed after the activists attacked the security personnel, forcing them to open fire in self-defence.
The third death was reported in Sirajganj, where a businessman, who was critically injured after anti-Government protesters attacked an auto-rickshaw he was travelling in, succumbed to his wounds.
With the three more deaths, the toll in the nationwide protests rose to seven since January 5 when Zia called on supporters to take to the streets against the first anniversary of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s controversial re-election.
Police confined Zia to her office in the capital for the sixth day on Thursday in a bid to halt the protests which include a blockade around the country of highways, railway lines and ports.