Police clash with striking protesters in Dhaka

(GETTY)

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets and swung batons to break up demonstrations in the Bangladesh capital, Dhaka, yesterday, as the opposition party enforced a nationwide general strike over the eviction of its leader from a military-owned house.

Security officials scuffled with hundreds of supporters of Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party outside the party headquarters in the centre of Dhaka. Witnesses said several people were injured.

The strike followed clashes between police and opposition supporters who were trying to stop Ms Zia – who was prime minister in 1991-96 and again in 2001-06 – from being evicted from her home of 30 years.

The dispute reflects the bitter rivalry between Bangladesh's two major parties – led by Ms Zia and her archrival, current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.