Bangladesh's Opposition party holds massive anti-govt rally demanding resignation of PM

Dhaka: Tens of thousands of supporters of Bangladesh's main Opposition party BNP on Saturday held a "grand rally" in the capital here demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation and fresh elections.

Seven lawmakers of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) announced their resignations to protest against the government led by Hasina. Dhaka's Golapbagh area, the venue of the rally, was under heavy security surveillance.

The party activists chanted "Sheikh Hasina is a vote thief" as the party leaders addressed the rally eastern part of the capital Dhaka city.

Residents of the capital, including office-goers, faced difficulties and many were seen waiting for public transport on the road since morning. Activists say the rally could attract 1 million people.

The ruling Awami League activists also staged several pro-government processions.

Seven BNP lawmakers announced their resignation at the rally.

"We had joined the Parliament in line with the party's decision but now there is no difference between staying or quitting...we have already emailed our resignations (to parliament secretariat)," BNP lawmaker Rumin Farhana told the rally.

She called the incumbent government an "autocratic" one and alleged it came to power by "rigging the polls", torturing the Opposition party leaders, carrying out forced disappearances, extra-judicial killings, and engaging in corruption.

"I am resigning in protest (against the government activities)," Farhana said, adding that she and six other fellow BNP lawmakers would deliver their resignations by hand to the Speaker's office on Sunday.

Police arrested several senior BNP leaders, including secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and scores of activists under different charges ahead of the rally.

"It is their fundamental right to stage rallies. . . we allowed them to stage it since it is not an illegal rally," Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) spokesman Harunur Rashid told reporters.

Some 20,000 law enforcement personnel have been deployed at the venue to avert any untoward incident, he said.

The BNP is demanding Prime Minister Hasina's resignation in favour of fresh elections under a caretaker government instead of ruling Awami League, fearing the polls to be rigged by her administration.

Bangladesh will hold its next general election in 2024.

"Our main demand is the resignation of Premier Sheikh Hasina and dissolution of Parliament and let a neutral caretaker government hold a free and credible election, which is not possible if the incumbent government stays in power," BNP spokesman Zahiruddin Swapan told PTI.

The BNP boycotted the 2014 and 2018 elections, but under a special provision, it allowed several of its leaders to take part in the last elections.

Seven of its leaders were elected to the 350-member parliament.