Two BNP activists were shot dead today in Bangladesh in street clashes with the ruling Awami League supporters on the first anniversary of the controversial polls, forcing authorities to deploy paramilitary forces as the opposition called for an indefinite nationwide blockade.
The two, in their 20s, were killed during clashes in northwestern Natore district.
"Clashes erupted as two processions of rival activists became face-to-face...The two activists from BNP have died instantly in gunshots," a police official said.
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Khaleda Zia, the chief of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) who had refused to participate in the January 5 elections branding it as "farce", remained cordoned off inside her Gulshan office here since Saturday night. Security forces, including women police, were deployed outside the building.
The opposition has planned nationwide rallies today to mark the first anniversary of what they describe as "Democracy Killing Day".
Dozens of Zia supporters tried to break the siege of her office, but were prevented by police who lobbed pepper spray at them. Several people reported injured in the incident.
Zia, 69, after failing to get out of her office, called for an indefinite blockade of roads, railways and waterways across Bangladesh until further notice.
Speaking to BBC Bangla, the BNP chief yesterday said her party would hold protest rallies today as planned despite the police ban on gatherings.
"This illegal government has completely lost touch with the people. It's not just me, they've confined the whole nation," she said.
Zia said that the government was afraid that the nation would stand behind her.
Meanwhile, authorities overnight called out paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) troops after BNP vowed to stage nationwide protests.
Police in riot gears took positions in Naya Paltan area in Dhaka to prevent their planned rally.
