Thousands of supporters of Bangladesh’s main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, rallied in the capital, Dhaka, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and holding general elections under a caretaker government.
The main opposition party has been in turmoil since opposition leader Khaleda Zia was jailed on corruption charges in 2018 and has staged large protests in recent months against rising inflation, according to Reuters. Thousands of protesters protested.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has been demanding that Prime Minister Hasina resign and hold the next elections in January 2024 under a neutral caretaker government, but the government has rejected the demand.
Senior leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Abdul Moin Khan, while talking to Reuters, said that BNP’s one-point demand is the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh, which can only be achieved through free and fair elections. It is not possible in the present government.
He said that this government should resign and make way for free and fair elections under a caretaker government, only through this we can restore people’s government in Bangladesh.
Supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party accused the police of creating obstacles, but despite this, thousands of people from different parts of the country participated in the rally.
BNP supporter Sanaullah, who joined the rally from the coastal city of Chittagong, said that we have come here to take the right of people to vote.
BNP leader Mirza Abbas said that the government tried hard to stop the rally but it could not succeed, our leaders and workers crossed all obstacles and we came here to make the rally a success.
Mirza Abbas further said that at least 1000 of his supporters participating in the rally have been arrested.
Police said only that some people were arrested because they could not provide valid identification cards.
Opposition and human rights groups have criticized the government for its crackdown on anti-government protests.
In May this year, the US said it was adopting a new policy of restricting visas for Bangladeshis who undermine the democratic electoral process at home.
Bangladesh’s 2014 and 2018 general elections have raised global concerns after allegations of vote rigging and targeting of the political opposition, though Sheikh Hasina Wajid’s government has denied the allegations.
Sheikh Hasina Wajid, who came to power in 2009, has been accused of human rights violations, undermining press freedom and suppressing dissent, as well as jailing critics, including key opposition leaders.
Hasina’s staunch rival and former prime minister Khaleda Zia has been allowed to stay at home in Dhaka under a special arrangement since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, but has been barred from participating in any political activities. was
An elderly supporter of the ruling party, participating in the rally announced by the government to counter the rally of the opposition party, shouted that Sheikh Hasina Wajid is here, Sheikh Hasina will always be.
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2024-08-05 17:42:56
