Dhaka: Thousands of textile workers protesting against soaring food prices today 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 Bangladeshi 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 PTI. 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 percent 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.

Source : PTI