Thousand of supporters of the opposition party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Bangladesh, protested the ongoing economic and political crisis and demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed at the capital Dhaka.
“Our main demand is Sheikh Hasina resign and parliament is dissolved and let a neutral caretaker government step in to hold a free and fair election,” said BNP Spokesperson Zahiruddin Swapan.
Police spokesman Faruq Ahmed said the demonstration was peaceful, but necessary units were ready intervene. A total of 34,000 police officers were deployed to ensure security and checkpoints were set up on the roads leading to the city center.
The anti-government protests have been held in the country in recent months after the power cuts and fuel price hikes faced across the country. Prime Minister Wazed, on the other hand, rejects calls to resign. One person was killed, and dozens were injured in the clash between the police and party supporters at the BNP rally last Thursday in the capital Dhaka and more than 2,000 supporters have been detained since November 30.
Western countries, the United Nations and human rights organizations state that they are concerned about the political situation and human rights violations in Bangladesh.