Police in Bangladesh used batons and teargas Sunday to disperse scores of protesters taking part in a day-long opposition strike in the capital, Dhaka.

Thousands of security officials were deployed across the city in an attempt to maintain order as schools and businesses were closed in observance of the strike. Reports from the capital say several opposition and government supporters were injured in scuffles with police.

The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party organized the strike in protest of the government's decision to divide Dhaka into two administrative zones.

The government says the planned split will lead to improved services and utilities for the city's 10 million residents.