Tuesday, June 13 2006 16:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dhaka: An opposition-sponsored 36-hour anti-government strike got underway in Bangladesh today to press for electoral reforms.

There were no reports of violence in the first hours but activists staged small marches in and outside capital Dhaka.

The alliance led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed's Awami League called for the general strike after hundreds of people, including opposition MPs, journalists and police, were injured during Sunday's violent 'Dhaka Seige' anti-government campaign.

The opposition alliance is demanding electoral reforms as well as resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Justice M.A. Aziz.

Hasina told reporters that they would continue their struggle in and outside the House to realize their demands.

The opposition has threatened to boycott the next general elections set for early 2007 unless their demands were met, which the governing side says was a ploy to jeopardise polls.