Three days of political rallies began in Bangladesh with rival groups set to stage mass demonstrations in Dhaka, drumming up support for eagerly anticipated elections following an uprising last year.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, 84, who has led an interim government since autocratic prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled into exile as crowds stormed her palace in August, has said elections will be held as early as December, and at the latest by mid-2026.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), widely tipped to win the poll, held a May Day rally in Dhaka yesterday.
The largest political party, Jamaat-e-Islami, also took to the streets of the capital.
The Jatiya Party, formerly close to Hasina’s regime, also held a rally.
It was its first outdoor political event since its offices were vandalised in October, allegedly for helping Hasina’s Awami League cling to power.
Today, the National Citizens Party (NCP), formed by students who spearheaded the youth-led protests that overthrew Hasina, will hold a rally.
NCP leader Nahid Islam initially joined the interim government led by Yunus, before resigning to form the party.
“Political programmes help us build public engagement,” said senior NCP official Ariful Islam Adib.
“This rally isn’t about showing strength, but we expect 20,000 to 30,000 attendees.”
Hefazat-e-Islam, a platform of Islamic seminaries, will hold a “grand rally” tomorrow.
“Our rally is a reminder to the government of the sacrifices we’ve made,” said its leader Mamunul Haque, adding that they will use the event to present their demands.
Key among them is scrapping recommendations by a government women’s commission for ending discriminatory provisions against women, a further indication of how hardline, religiously fuelled activism is strengthening after years of suppression.
“We will present four demands. Chief among them is scrapping the recommendations of the Women’s Rights Commission,” Haque said.
“We don’t care if it’s Muhammad Yunus in charge or someone even more prominent, we’ll take to the streets.”
Hassina, who remains in self-imposed exile in India, has defied an arrest warrant from Dhaka over charges of crimes against humanity. — AFP
