Thousands demand resignation of election officials

Attackers set three election offices on fire outside the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka today, as thousands of protesters gathered to demand the resignation of election officials ahead of January polls.

The attacks on the election offices occurred before dawn and it was not immediately known who was responsible, ATN Bangla TV station and United News of Bangladesh reported.

The attackers used petrol to ignite the fire that destroyed official documents and furniture in the offices in Munshiganj, Barisal and Khulna.

The violence occurred hours before thousands of protesters rallied in capital Dhaka to demand electoral reforms and the resignation of five election commissioners accused of bias in favour of former prime minister Khaleda Zia. No violence was immediately reported in Dhaka.

It was unclear if the attacks were related to the protests.