Tens of thousands of supporters of the major opposition party called for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation and early elections on Saturday, bringing the capital of Bangladesh to a halt and placing counterterrorism units on alert.
Tensions rose after security forces opened fire on protesters earlier this week outside the headquarters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, leaving one person dead and numerous others injured. This sparked the nation's largest demonstration since 2009 when the ruling Awami League party came to power.
Hundreds of activists have been arrested over the past few days, including BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Protesters gathered at the Golapbagh sports ground in south Dhaka on Saturday. BNP activists announced before the rally that they expected around 200,000 people to participate.
The party made 10 demands “aiming to restore democracy” during the rally, Dudu added, including the resignation of the government, the dissolution of parliament, the formation of a neutral caretaker cabinet, and the dropping of all cases against recently arrested BNP members and leaders.
Tensions rose after security forces opened fire on protesters earlier this week outside the headquarters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, leaving one person dead and numerous others injured. This sparked the nation's largest demonstration since 2009 when the ruling Awami League party came to power.
Hundreds of activists have been arrested over the past few days, including BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Protesters gathered at the Golapbagh sports ground in south Dhaka on Saturday. BNP activists announced before the rally that they expected around 200,000 people to participate.
The party made 10 demands “aiming to restore democracy” during the rally, Dudu added, including the resignation of the government, the dissolution of parliament, the formation of a neutral caretaker cabinet, and the dropping of all cases against recently arrested BNP members and leaders.
