Bangladesh: key opposition figure jailed after rally turns violent
Authorities in Bangladesh have arrested a key opposition figure from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and sent him to prison after a nationwide strike led to violent clashes with security forces.
Media reports said at least three civilians died in the violence, which included an arson attack in the nation’s capital, Dhaka, on Sunday. Dozens of others were injured during the strike.
At least one police officer was killed and scores were injured on Saturday when a massive rally by tens of thousands of opposition activists turned violent, police said. The opposition is demanding the resignation of prime minister Sheikh Hasina and the transfer of power to a non-partisan caretaker government to oversee general elections next year.
After almost nine hours in detention, police late on Sunday arrested Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the secretary general of the Nationalist Party led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia, Hasina’s main rival, according to Faruk Hossain, deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan police in charge of media.
Hossain also said that 1,300 people were being investigated for Saturday’s violence. Local reports said police had raided the homes of several opposition leaders overnight in Dhaka.
Alamgir appeared before a magistrate court late on Sunday when his bail request was rejected and he was ordered to be sent to prison, pending further legal procedures involving charges of vandalism during Saturday’s violence.
Police claimed a group of opposition supporters attacked the official residence of the country’s chief justice during Saturday’s protest. Alamgir has been implicated in the case.
The party denounced his detention and announced a three-day blockade of roads and public transportation across the country starting on Tuesday.
Dhaka Metropolitan police Commissioner Habibur Rahman said that Alamgir was detained for questioning. Under the law, he must appear in court within 24 hours.
Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters that leaders of Zia’s party have to bear responsibility for their role in the violence, the United News of Bangladesh agency reported.
Amid growing tension in a country dominated by the two major dynastic political parties of Hasina and Zia, the ruling party’s general secretary Obaidul Quader said on Sunday that there would be no dialogue with the opposition before the election unless it agrees with four issues, including the ruling out of a caretaker government. The party is also demanding that Hasina remain the head of government until the election, and it rejects any changes to the Election Commission.
On Sunday, at least three vehicles were set on fire in the capital as police increased security.
The United News of Bangladesh agency reported that two people, including an opposition activist, were killed in Dhaka while a ruling party man died in the northern district of Lalmonirhat on Sunday. It said at least 42 vehicles were vandalised in Dhaka and two other cities in northern and northeastern Bangladesh.
The news agency said more than 100 people were injured in parts of Bangladesh while police arrested over 200 opposition supporters in Dhaka and in seven other districts across the country during the daylong strike.
The European Union and the United States urged all sides to maintain restraint as tensions soared ahead of the national elections, expected to be held in January.
The US assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs, Donald Lu, said Washington “will review all violent incidents for possible visa restrictions.”
The rivalry between Hasina and Zia has been ongoing for decades, and Hasina’s government has been under pressure for months as the opposition has held largely peaceful anti-government demonstrations.
Critics and rights groups have criticised Hasina’s administration for suppressing opposition voices, an allegation authorities have denied.
Hasina, who has touted her development agenda, hopes to return to power for a fourth consecutive term. She says the election should be held under her government’s supervision as specified in the constitution. The opposition says the election won’t be free and fair, despite Hasina’s pledges.
The prime minister recently told parliament that the US wants to remove her from power at any cost. The US has threatened to deny visas to those it says were obstructing the election process. They include members of law enforcement agencies as well as the ruling and opposition parties.