On Saturday, stone-throwing opposition party members blocked major roadways in the nation’s capital, Dhaka, demanding the resignation of the prime minister. Bangladeshi police responded by firing rubber bullets and tear gas at them.
On Friday, tens of thousands of supporters of Bangladesh’s largest opposition party gathered in the nation’s capital to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the holding of general elections under a caretaker administration.
The main opposition party, which has been in disarray since its leader Khaleda Zia was imprisoned in 2018 on corruption-related charges, has organized larger protest rallies recently, gathering thousands of followers amid rising resentment over the rising cost of living.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has demanded that Prime Minister Hasina resign and that the upcoming election, scheduled for January 2024, be held under a caretaker administration that is impartial. Her government has rejected this proposal.
Supporters of the BNP arrived in Dhaka from all across the nation amid claims that police roadblocks prevented them from attending the protest.
Sana Ullah, a BNP member from the port city of Chittagong, joined the march and declared, “We are here for the people’s right to vote.”
“The authorities made a lot of effort to stop the rally, but it was unsuccessful. BNP leader Mirza Abbas stated that “our leaders and activists defied all obstacles and came to make the rally a success,” adding that at least 1,000 supporters had been detained.
The United States announced in May that it was enacting a new policy to impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshis who meddle in their country’s democratic election process.
Since taking office in 2009, Hasina has maintained tight control over the country in South Asia. She has been charged with violating human rights, eliminating journalistic freedom, stifling dissent, and imprisoning opponents, including numerous members of the main opposition.
