Bangladesh police confronted stone-throwing protesters on Saturday (July 29) as they blockaded major roads in the capital city, Dhaka. The demonstrations, led by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies, escalated the demand for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation, seeking a caretaker government to supervise upcoming elections in January, news agency AFP reported.
Clashes erupted in various locations as police attempted to disperse crowds that had gathered in the morning to obstruct traffic on major city thoroughfares. In response to the deteriorating situation, police used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the protesters, according to the report.
"Some officers were injured during the clashes," said Dhaka Metropolitan Police spokesman Faruk Hossain. "To keep the situation under control, we used tear gas and rubber bullets," Hossain was quoted as saying by AFP.
At least four protest sites in various parts of the city saw clashes between police and protesters. Following the clashes, 20 officers were reported injured, and approximately 90 protesters were taken into police custody, the report said.
According to the report, protesters hurled rocks at riot police and their vehicles, according to AFP journalists stationed at one of the protest sites in Dholaikhal, an old neighbourhood that has become a hub for automotive repair shops. According to police inspector Bacchu Mia, six protesters with injuries were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital as the situation unfolded, it added.
The police detained senior BNP leaders Goyeshwar Roy and Amanullah Aman, though no formal arrests were made, according to spokesperson Hossain.
The protests severely hampered transport links between Dhaka and the rest of the country, resulting in extensive gridlock as trucks and buses became stranded due to the blockades, according to the report. Bangladesh has been ruled by Hasina's Awami League since 2009, and it has been accused of human rights violations, corruption, and creeping authoritarianism.
Demonstrations led by the BNP have become more common since the beginning of the year, with rallies this month attracting tens of thousands of people. At least 500 opposition activists were arrested this week ahead of a rally outside the party's headquarters.
Western governments have expressed concern about Bangladesh's political climate, where the ruling party dominates the legislature and effectively runs it as a rubber stamp, the report said.