Dhaka: Tens of thousands of supporters of Bangladesh's largest opposition group have assembled in Dhaka to oppose the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led administration and call for fresh elections.
The protesters rallied at the Golapbagh sports ground, where the crowd chanted “Sheikh Hasina is a vote thief” amid heightened tensions in the Bangladeshi capital. The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) headquarters were raided by security forces days prior to the gathering. The raid resulted in at least one death and numerous injuries.
Anti-government protests have erupted across the country in recent months triggered by power cuts and fuel price hikes. The prime minister has rejected calls to stand down.
A BNP official said that some 200,000 people had joined the rally by mid-morning. Dhaka Metropolitan Police spokesman Faruq Ahmed rejected the claim and said the venue could not hold more than 30,000 people.
“Our main demand is Sheikh Hasina's resignation and parliament is dissolved and let a neutral caretaker government step in to hold a free and fair election,” BNP spokesman Zahiruddin Swapan said.
