Violence erupted in Chittagong, Bangladesh, after the government militarized the docks to break a longshore strike.
Bangladeshi police opened fire with tear gas shells and rubber bullets in the country’s main port of Chittagong on Wednesday after striking dock workers stopped work and went on the rampage, officials said.
At least 20 people were wounded in clashes as thousands of dockers fought with port guards and attacked vehicles, prompting the government to call in the army to reinforce the police.
Authorities imposed a ban on assembly of more than five people at the port until further notice as the strike paralysed the external trade hub for a second day.
The workers went on strike after around 1,500 casual dockers lost their jobs when the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) handed over container and bulk operations to private berth operators.