Opposition wants caretaker government in lieu of PM Hasina’s
This morning, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party announced plans to rally against the ruling the Awami League, which responded with counter-protests. Today's date, October 28, is significant because clashes on this day in 2006 marked the start of the League’s hold on to power.
Dhaka (AsiaNews) – Bangladesh's main opposition party has called for a large rally today to force the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and allow a caretaker administration to run the country until upcoming elections are held, a request that the prime minister has already rejected despite polls showing that most Bangladeshis support the idea.
Instead, the ruling Awami League decided to hold a counter-demonstration in the capital, Dhaka, where opposition protesters and police have already clashed.
This morning, supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) set fire to some police boxes, one near a church and another near a mosque in Kakrail, local sources report.
After several refusals in recent months, the BNP was given permission to hold a rally in the Nayapaltan area, in front of its headquarters, where police yesterday installed dozens of security cameras.
In another part of the city, on the Tongi Bridge, supporters of the Awami League (AL) hijacked five buses. After all passengers were forced off the vehicles, pro-AL supporters took their place and were driven to the ruling party's rally.
According to some witnesses, the police did not stop the buses carrying pro-government supporters and let them drive to the protest venue.
Police boosted checkpoints around the capital, detaining several activists who were placed in custody at the Aminbazar hospital before taking to the central Dhaka.
"We will not call it is detention. In fact, persons who are suspects are being kept in our custody for some time for questioning,” said Dhaka District Additional Superintendent of Police Abdulla Hil Kafi.
While the police officer did not cite any figures for the people detained, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, a senior joint BNP secretary general, said that, “Police have arrested nearly 1,700 during the last four days.”
According to Ali Riaz, a distinguished professor of politics and government at Illinois State University (US), by allowing the BNP to hold its own rally, Sheikh Hasina is attempting a change of strategy without actually compromising, aware that she has the eyes of the world, in particular those of the United States, on her.
In recent months, Washington has stepped up pressure on Dhaka to ensure free and fair elections, including visa restrictions on Bangladeshis deemed a threat to the democratic process.
“I sense some worry and concerns within the ruling party, but its leaders are taking a belligerent posture, hoping that it will keep its supporters morale high and scare the opposition,” said Riaz, speaking to Nikkei Asia.
Yet, the latter, Riaz added, “is feeling bolstered by growing support among citizens. A de facto consensus has emerged among all opposition that there is no way to participate in an election under the present government,”
Today, 28 October, is very significant in Bangladeshi history. In 2006, the BNP was in power and the Awami League was in opposition.
On that day, violent clashes were reported in the capital and outlying areas that left at least 13 people dead after the Awami League came out against the appointment of Supreme Court Chief Justice K. M. Hasan to head a caretaker government.
Dozens of people were arrested, including Sheikh Hasina and BNP leader Begum Khaleda Zia.
The caretaker government held power until 2008, when new elections saw the Awami League win. The party has ruled Bangladesh ever since, despite the BNP repeatedly alleging electoral fraud.
.png)
08/01/2024 13:57
04/04/2023 14:37
12/04/2007
