http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Food_riots_erupt_near_Bangladesh_capital/articleshow/2947769.cms
Food riots erupt near Bangladesh capital
12 Apr 2008, 2236 hrs IST,PTI
DHAKA: Thousands of textile workers protesting against soaring food
prices on Saturday clashed with the police and went on a rampage
attacking vehicles and shops, prompting authorities to call in the
military in the outskirts of the Banglade**** capital.
Nearly two dozen people were injured as police opened fire in air and
used batons and tear gas to disperse the protesters who turned violent
while demanding a wage hike to meet the steep food prices.
"The joint forces fired gunshots in the air to disperse the angry
crowd as they assaulted several policemen when we tried to talk to
them," police sub inspector Seema told re****ters.
She said no arrests were made. Witnesses claimed attacked cars and
buses, vandalised shops and hurled bricks and stones at police. Among
the injured were several policemen.
The Army-led joint forces were deployed to control the situation.
Bangladesh's military-backed interim government has been grappling
with soaring food prices and production shortfall. Food adviser
Shawkat Ali recently said "hidden hunger" was on the rise and 25 lakh
of the country's estimated 144 million people remained completely out
of "safety nets".
Analysts have warned of a "silent famine" in the country, where 40 per
cent of the 144 million population live on a dollar a day. Bangladesh
last week launched a rural employment programme for the poor.
However, the opposition has sharpened its attack on the government
installed after imposition of emergency last year following political
turmoil in the country.
