Bangladesh opposition supporters conflict with police in protest over election oversight

DHAKA,Bangladesh (AP) – Police in Bangladesh’s capital on Saturday clashed with supporters of the nation’s fundamental opposition social gathering, which mentioned scores of its activists had been injured throughout anti-government protests in components of town.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party headed by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the switch of energy to a non-party caretaker authorities till the subsequent basic election, which is anticipated to be held by early January.

Zia’s social gathering and its allies accuse Hasina of vote rigging in 2018 and the social gathering has been protesting over who ought to oversee the subsequent basic election.

On Saturday, tons of of activists of Zia’s social gathering tried to dam a number of entry factors to Dhaka, the capital, whereas police fired tear fuel and charged with batons to disperse them. The opposition activists retaliated by throwing items of brick and attacked police autos with sticks, police mentioned. On Friday, Zia’s social gathering introduced the sit-in protest in any respect the entrances of Dhaka and supporters of the ruling Awami League social gathering additionally took to the streets.

Faruk Hossain, a spokesman of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, mentioned officers arrested at the least 90 opposition activists through the five-hour protest in components of town and 20 police had been injured in clashes with the protesters.

Zia’s social gathering mentioned later within the night that greater than 100 opposition activists had been injured. The social gathering additionally mentioned that at the least 124 of its members had been arrested by police.

Police mentioned two senior leaders had been detained briefly, however had been later launched.

Hasina hopes to return to energy for a fourth consecutive time period and says the election needs to be held underneath her authorities’s supervision as specified within the structure.

But Zia’s social gathering and its allies accuse Hasina of vote rigging in 2018 and say she should step down to permit the set up of a non-party caretaker authorities to make sure a free and truthful vote.

Both sides held separate rallies on Friday.