Political turmoil in Bangladesh continues ahead of the general election scheduled for January. The leader of Bangladesh's main opposition party says the party will boycott the election if Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina does not resign.

Violence has continued since the weekend. A nationwide strike by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, or BNP, led to clashes with security forces.

The BNP is demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League, which holds power in an alliance with other parties. The BNP claims a fair and free election is impossible under Hasina's administration.

Hasina has indicated that the current Cabinet will remain in place, and the election will be held as scheduled under the independent Election Commission.

Police have arrested opposition leaders and activists on charges of vandalism, arson and attacks on police.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and other senior leaders are among the arrested.

Nearly a dozen buses have been set on fire in Dhaka and Chattogram since Tuesday, amid a BNP-led transport blockade.