Dozens injured, arrested in anti-government protests in Bangladesh
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – More than 100 people were reportedly injured in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, as the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) protested against the government.
A police vehicle and three public buses were reportedly set on fire and several private vehicles were damaged during the protests.
The opposition and ruling parties blamed each other for the incidents.
The BNP has been demanding a neutral government to conduct elections in the country.
The ruling Awami League (AL) party has said it will hold elections in December or early January under incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said it arrested 90 people for damaging public property and initiating an attack on police.
Faruk Hossain, deputy commissioner of DMP’s media wing, said 20 police were injured in attacks by BNP supporters in different areas of the capital.
Police arrested more than 1,200 opposition BNP party leaders and supporters in the last three days as of Friday during a BNP-held grand rally in Dhaka.
Bangladesh’s largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, condemned the police attacks.
It said 200 of its leaders and supporters had also been arrested across the country.
The BNP announced late Saturday that nationwide rallies would be held Monday against police and the ruling party’s attack Saturday on peaceful demonstrators.
The U.S. and its Western allies have called for free and participatory elections in Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh government has rejected the Western demands, saying they constitute foreign interference in internal affairs.
The Foreign Ministry summoned 13 foreign missions Wednesday and expressed dissatisfaction with their explanation.
The missions had called for a fair investigation into the attack on an independent candidate during the July 17 by-election.