During anti-government demonstrations in Dhaka, police in Bangladesh battled with members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which is led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia.
The BNP asked that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina step down and that authority be handed over to an interim caretaker administration until the next general election.
Clash with police
The BNP and its allies have been protesting about who should monitor the upcoming general election while also accusing Hasina of vote manipulation in 2018.
On Saturday, hundreds of Zia’s party members attempted to block Dhaka’s entrances, but police dispersed them with tear gas and batons.
- Police clash with BNP members during Dhaka anti-government demonstrations.
- BNP protests election monitoring and accuses Hasina of 2018 vote manipulation.
- Zia party claims over 100 workers were injured, 124 detained, and two detained.
Awami League supporters also came to the streets as the BNP announced the sit-in protest at all Dhaka gateways. During the five-hour rally, police detained at least 90 opposition workers, and 20 officers were hurt.
Zia’s party claimed that more than 100 workers had been hurt and that 124 of its members had been detained by police. Two powerful individuals were temporarily detained before being freed.
To secure a fourth straight term in office, Hasina said the election must be supervised by her administration by the constitution.
