Supporters of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have taken to the streets of Bangladesh, demanding her return from exile in India. The protests erupted three hours ago and are ongoing across the country, with clashes between police and pro-Hasina activists reported in Gopalganj district. The demonstrations come a day after Hasina announced she had requested a passport to return to Bangladesh. The student wing of Hasina's Awami League party, known as the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), has been at the forefront of these protests, marking their first organised show of force since her ousting in August 2024. Traffic disruptions and roadblocks using burning tires have been reported in some parts of the country, with several passenger vehicles also set on fire. The activities of the Awami League were banned shortly after Hasina fled the country and it was not allowed to contest the February general election. A special tribunal in Bangladesh sentenced Hasina to death in absentia last year for crimes against humanity, a verdict that would be executed if she returned to the country. However, Hasina has denied all charges and expressed her desire to return to Bangladesh in December.
Tensions between the government and Hasina's supporters have escalated in recent days, with allegations of hundreds of supporters being killed in mob violence and dozens dying in custody of security forces over the past two years. The Bangladeshi government has labeled Hasina as a "fugitive criminal" and threatened to execute the death penalty if she returns. A state prosecutor on Tuesday said the verdict would be executed should Hasina return, but she has missed the opportunity to appeal. Amidst this political turmoil, the United Nations estimates up to 1,400 people were killed during anti-government protests in 2024, most by gunfire from security forces.
Protests have erupted across Bangladesh as supporters of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina demand her return from exile in India. The demonstrations, led by the student wing of Hasina's Awami League party, started three hours ago and have resulted in clashes with police in Gopalganj district. These protests follow Hasina's announcement that she had requested a passport to return to Bangladesh. Traffic disruptions and roadblocks using burning tires have been reported in some parts of the country, while several passenger vehicles have also been set on fire. The activities of the Awami League were banned shortly after Hasina fled the country and it was not allowed to contest the February general election. In 2021, a special tribunal in Bangladesh sentenced Hasina to death in absentia for crimes against humanity, a verdict that would be executed if she returned to the country. However, Hasina has denied all charges and expressed her desire to return to Bangladesh in December.
The political situation in Bangladesh has become increasingly tense in recent days, with allegations of hundreds of supporters being killed in mob violence and dozens dying in custody of security forces over the past two years. The Bangladeshi government has labeled Hasina as a "fugitive criminal" and threatened to execute the death penalty if she returns. A state prosecutor on Tuesday said the verdict would be executed should Hasina return, but she has missed the opportunity to appeal. The United Nations estimates up to 1,400 people were killed during anti-government protests in 2024, most by gunfire from security forces.
Supporters of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are demanding her return to Bangladesh from exile in India, leading to violent protests across the country. The demonstrations began three hours ago, with clashes between police and pro-Hasina activists reported in Gopalganj district. These protests follow Hasina's announcement that she had requested a passport to return to Bangladesh. Traffic disruptions and roadblocks using burning tires have been reported in some parts of the country, while several passenger vehicles have also been set on fire. The activities of the Awami League, Hasina's political party, were banned shortly after her ousting from office and it was not allowed to contest the February general election. In 2021, a special tribunal in Bangladesh sentenced Hasina to death in absentia for crimes against humanity, a verdict that would be executed if she returned to the country. However, Hasina has denied all charges and expressed her desire to return to Bangladesh in December.
The political situation in Bangladesh has become increasingly tense in recent days, with allegations of hundreds of supporters being killed in mob violence and dozens dying in custody of security forces over the past two years. The Bangladeshi government has labeled Hasina as a "fugitive criminal" and threatened to execute the death penalty if she returns. A state prosecutor on Tuesday said the verdict would be executed should Hasina return, but she has missed the opportunity to appeal. The United Nations estimates up to 1,400 people were killed during anti-government protests in 2024, most by gunfire from security forces.