New Delhi
CNN
—
Tens of 1000’s of protesters took to the streets of Dhaka on Saturday calling for the dissolution of parliament to make manner for brand 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 gas 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 individuals towards permitting the BNP – the biggest opposition celebration – again into energy.
Several arrests had been made within the lead as much as Saturday’s protest.
Police arrested two high BNP leaders, together with celebration secretary normal Mirza Alamgir on Friday. Authorities mentioned Alamgir was dealing with prices, 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 individuals 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 response to 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 an announcement Thursday that the embassy is worried about studies of intimidation and political violence and urged authorities to analyze and defend freedoms of expression and peaceable meeting.