DHAKA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Over 50 activists were injured on Sunday during clashes between security forces and activists of the grand alliance on the first day of a three-day nationwide blockade that paralyzed entire Bangladesh, including economic activities.

    The grand alliance led by main opposition Awami League (AL) enforced the blockade to force the caretaker government to go for correction of the voter list, reconstitution of Election Commission (EC), deferring election schedule and stepping down of Chief Advisor (CA) Iajuddin Ahmed for holding a free, fair and credible election.

    On the first day of the blockade, the activists fought with security forces in different parts of the capital Dhaka for hours long with brickbats.

    The caretaker government posted at least 15,000 forces, including para-military Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), anti-crime elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Bangladeshi army in the capital Dhaka.

    On the first day of the blockade, the entire country was shut as there was no transport movement anywhere in the country. The capital Dhaka was completely isolated from rest of the country. Inside the capital also there was no movement of transport. Only the paddle rickshaws were allowed by the alliance as the pullers are very poor.

    Educational and financial institutions, shopping centers were closed. Only banks operated with poor attendance. Bangladesh's seaports could not load and unload cargoes as transport movement came to a halt.

    Meanwhile, five of the 10 advisors of the caretaker government on Sunday hold a meeting with CA and President Iajuddin Ahmed to find out ways to resolve the political crisis as the grand alliance is boycotting the general election slated for Jan. 22 on ground that under Iajuddin there will be no clean and credible elections.

    Advisor Safiqur Rahman Chowdhury told the media after the meeting that the president has agreed to send a reference to the Supreme Court seeking opinion that the election could be held after 90 days. But Bangladesh constitution specifies that the caretaker government must stage the national election within 90 days after it takes office. The caretaker government headed by Iajuddin took office on Oct. 29, 2006.

    Chowdhury said the president has agreed to send the reference in case both the major political camps -- Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led four party alliance and the AL-led grand alliance agreed.