In Bangladesh, at least one person has been killed after clashes between security forces and opposition activists in the capital, Dhaka, turned violent.
Witnesses say fighting broke out after a group of activists from the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami Party began marching in the streets, calling on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to cancel upcoming elections. Thousands of police responded and attempted to break up the crowd.
Hasina’s rival, former prime minister Khaleda Zia, was expected to defy a government ban on large political gatherings by addressing the protesters later on Sunday. But security officials surrounded her home, preventing her from leaving.
Jamaat-e-Islami, the main partner of Zia's party, has been banned from taking part in the general election, scheduled to take place on January 5th.
The opposition says it will not take part in the vote unless an interim government oversees it. The boycott would mean more than half of 300 parliament seats will go uncontested, undermining the legitimacy of the election.
