Dhaka: Hundreds of workers and supporters of the Awami League, the party of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, have been arrested by the Bangladesh Army in anticipation of a planned protest against the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.
The protest, set for November 10, was aimed at voicing opposition to the government and alleged mistreatment of Awami League leaders.
To maintain control, 191 platoons of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed across Dhaka and other key areas. Authorities have denied the Awami League permission to hold the demonstration, citing concerns about public safety and order.
The protest was planned to take place in several areas, including Gulisthan, Zero Point, and Nur Hossain Square, where supporters were set to express their grievances, including allegations of false framing of their leaders, the banning of the Chatra League student wing, and the persecution of Awami League workers.
The crackdown comes after Sheikh Hasina’s forced resignation and exile in August, following violent protests supported by opposition parties like Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami. These parties have pledged to prevent Awami League gatherings and have taken control of key protest sites to prevent any demonstration.
The interim government, led by Yunus, has labeled the Awami League as a “fascist party,” vowing not to tolerate any actions that may disrupt public order. Shafiqul Alam, Yunus’s press secretary, emphasized that any attempts to hold rallies would face strict law enforcement.
In response, the Awami League has maintained that their protest is crucial to defend the rights of the people and to counter the rise of fundamentalist forces in the country.
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