At least 20 people were hurt on Monday in southwestern Bangladesh as a hardline Islamic group enforced a general strike to back its demands for an anti-blasphemy law. Police and Somoy TV station said the violence took place in Chittagong city when activists from Hifazat-e-Islam clashed with ruling Awami League supporters. Police official Abdullahel Baki said the Hifazat-e-Islam protesters threw stones at police and the ruling party supporters. The TV station reported that one ruling party member was hit by a bullet, but it was not immediately clear who fired it. The Hifazat-e-Islam protesters also blocked a rail line in eastern Brahmanbaria district to disrupt train services.
