Bangladesh police fire tear gas to disperse protesters in Dhaka

Bangladesh riot police have fired tear gas at anti-government protesters in the capital city of Dhaka, a day after general elections that were boycotted by opposition parties.

Protests were held in several areas, including the Dhaka University campus.

Police also used stun grenade and batons to disperse large crowds of angry demonstrators.

Security is still tight and soldiers in full-gear are patrolling the streets where most businesses remain closed.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh election commission says voter turn-out was 22 percent and initial results indicate that the ruling party of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has secured at least 105 out of the 147 seats up for election.

Polling centers were open in only 147 constituencies as 153 seats had already been filled as there was only one candidate.

The opposition parties in the country boycotted the election and urged their supporters to stay away from the polling stations.

Bangladesh national parliament has 330 members of whom 300 members are directly elected through a national election for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies.

At least 22 people have been killed in violence and strikes in the run-up to the vote.

Opposition activists say over 290 people have lost their lives in the unrest since last year.

For more than two decades, Bangladesh has been plagued by political rivalry between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition leader Khaleda Zia who have been taking turns to rule the country.