Opposition protesters demanding the establishment of a caretaker government in Bangladesh before the next general election blocked the roads of Dhaka, set fire to buses and detonated petrol bombs on Saturday. Protesters belonging to Khaleda Zia’s BNP also pelted the security forces with stones. The police responded by firing rubber bullets and tear gas shells.

Unlike Pakistan, elections in Bangladesh are not held under a caretaker government. Instead the incumbent government oversees the electoral process. In the past, a caretaker government was established to hold election, but the parliament changed the law in 2011.

Hasina Wajid has been the prime minister of Bangladesh since 2009 and has been winning consecutive elections since the end of the caretaker government system.

Khaleda Zia’s party is demanding that a caretaker government be formed before the January 2024 elections. There have been demonstrations on this issue before. Massive protests broke out in Dhaka on Friday, followed by clashes on Saturday.

Police said 20 officials have been injured while 90 protesters were arrested.

The ruling Awami League has called for counter-demonstrations on Sunday (today), leading to fears of clashes. Major demonstrations have been announced by the opposition on Monday.

According to Al Jazeera TV, tension is rising in the streets of Dhaka because people are anggery with the government due to food inflation.

BNP members have been facing a government crackdown for years. But nNow the international community says that Hasina Wajid’s government is involved in human rights violations, suppressing freedom of expression and adopting anti-government tactics.