50 hurt near Dhaka in clash over power shortage

DHAKA - At least 50 people, including police personnel, were injured in a clash early Wednesday when people angered by frequent power breakdowns took to the streets in Narayanganj town near the national capital.

Protests over frequent power cuts have been frequent this summer.

Power supply was high on the charter of demands made by opposition leader Khaleda Zia Monday.

However, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told a meeting Tuesday that her government had added 1,500 MW of power since it took office in January last year and an equal quantity would be added by the end of this year.

She blamed past governments, including that of Zia, for “stagnation” in creation of avenues for power generation.