A column of protesters from the Bangaldesh opposition has been resting in the southern port of Chittagong after travelling through the night.

The column which left the capital Dhaka on Tuesday, is headed by the main opposition leader, Begum Khaleda Zia.

The demonstrators are making their way to the Chittagong Hill Tracts to protest against the peace treaty between the government and tribal rebels there.

In skirmishes between protesters and opponents at least fifty people have been reported injured.

Earlier, the governing Awami League denied opposition claims that it was involved in blocking the protest route after the column had set out from Dhaka.

The opposition Bangladesh National Party says the Hill Tracts treaty undermines the territorial integrity of Bangladesh.