Violence in Bangladesh ahead of elections

(Vatican Radio) There has been further violence in Bangladesh ahead of a general election due to take place on Sunday. At least 100 people have died in the past weeks of violence, and further casualties are now being reported in attacks on polling stations. In the streets of Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, opposition supporters clashed with police on Saturday amid a two-day general strike in protest against Sunday’s election, in which Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her party, the Awami League, are expected to return to power.

The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party is boycotting the poll. Activists have set fire to polling stations, police say, and have also torched buses carrying commuters suspected of breaking the strike. Dozens of people have died. Opposition activists say the government fuelled frustrations when it changed the rules for how elections should be held, in a bid to remain in power. The BNP's boycott means about half of parliament seats will now be uncontested.

The government has accused the opposition of choosing what it calls the "path of confrontation", saying the opposition should have argued its case after the election takes place. The European Union and United States have stopped short of sending observers to monitor the poll.

Listen to Alastair Wanklyn’s report: