Clashes Erupt in Dhaka as Protests Escalate, Demanding PM’s Resignation
Clashes erupted in several locations when police moved in to clear protesters
LAHORE MIRROR — Protests demanding the resignation of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, escalated in the capital city of Dhaka on Saturday, resulting in clashes between stone-throwing demonstrators and police forces.
The opposition, led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies, has been organizing protests since the previous year, calling for a caretaker government to oversee the upcoming elections scheduled for January.
The situation intensified when police attempted to clear the roads blocked by thousands of protesters in various locations around the city. Rubber bullets and tear gas were used by the police to disperse the crowds, leading to injuries on both sides. According to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police spokesman, Faruk Hossain, some officers were injured during the clashes.
At least four protest sites witnessed confrontations between protesters and police, resulting in 20 officers being injured and 90 protesters arrested. Journalists from FP who were present at one of the protest sites in Dholaikhal reported that protesters retaliated by throwing rocks at riot police and their vehicles. As a result of the clashes, transport links between Dhaka and other parts of the country were severely disrupted, with trucks and buses stuck in gridlock.
The ongoing protests stem from allegations of human rights abuses, corruption, and growing authoritarianism against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ruling Awami League, which has been in power since 2009. The BNP-led demonstrations have gained momentum throughout the year, with recent rallies attracting tens of thousands of people to the streets.
The political climate in Bangladesh has drawn concern from Western governments, as the ruling party, dominating the legislature, has been accused of running the country as a “rubber stamp.” Security forces have been accused of detaining tens of thousands of opposition activists, and extrajudicial encounters have resulted in hundreds of deaths. In 2021, the United States sanctioned the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) security force and seven of its senior officers in response to these alleged human rights abuses.
Khaleda Zia, the leader of the BNP and a former two-time premier, is effectively under house arrest following a conviction on corruption charges.
As the situation remains tense, authorities are closely monitoring developments in Dhaka and the rest of the country.
