New Delhi
Act Daily News
—
Tens of hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Dhaka on Saturday calling for the dissolution of parliament to make approach for brand spanking new elections, and demand the resignation of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The mass protest within the capital was organized by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which accuses Hasina of failing to handle rising gasoline costs and the price of dwelling.
Saturday’s protest comes amid a flurry of demonstrations in Bangladesh calling on Hasina to step down and demanding new elections.
Hasina has responded by calling the opposition leaders “arson terrorists” and warned folks in opposition to permitting the BNP – the biggest opposition get together – again into energy.
Several arrests have been made within the lead as much as Saturday’s protest.
Police arrested two high BNP leaders, together with get together secretary normal Mirza Alamgir on Friday. Authorities mentioned Alamgir was dealing with expenses, with out giving extra info.
At least one man died throughout clashes between protesters and police on Wednesday when safety forces fired tear gasoline to disperse folks gathered in entrance of the BNP’s workplace within the capital.
Hasan Mahmud, Bangladesh’s Information and Broadcasting Minister, mentioned authorities consider the person died after being injured by [Molotov] cocktails made by the activists and blamed the BNP for “creating chaos,” in line with a report in state media outlet BSS.
The Bangladesh Election Commission has not introduced a date for the subsequent normal election, which is due by the tip of 2023.
The Bangladesh Awami League, led by 75-year-old Hasina, has been in energy since 2009.
Hasina gained a 3rd consecutive time period as Prime Minister in 2018 in a nationwide election that was marred by lethal violence and allegations of rigged ballots.
Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch, criticized the federal government’s response to the protests.
“Concerned governments should publicly call on the prime minister to allow Bangladeshis to freely engage in peaceful political activities,” she mentioned.
“Sheikh Hasina should accept the challenge of democratic rule, not authoritarian abuse.”
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter D. Haas mentioned in a press release Thursday that the embassy is worried about stories of intimidation and political violence and urged authorities to research and defend freedoms of expression and peaceable meeting.