Bangladesh: Ruling party to hold rally in Dhaka November 18

Event

The ruling Awami League has announced it will hold a rally on Saturday, November 18, at Dhaka’s Suhrawardy Udyan. The rally will celebrate the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s recognition of a historic 1971 speech by Bangladesh’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as “world documentary heritage.” Unofficial reports say the rally will additionally highlight party members’ grievances against actions of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to attend the rally.

The total expected number of attendees is unknown; however, severe transportation disruptions should still be expected in the vicinity of the rally as well as a heavy security presence. The rally is expected to be peaceful, but clashes between attendees, security personnel, and potential counterprotesters cannot be ruled out.

Context

The BNP held a mass rally on November 12 in Dhaka attended by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. While the rally proceeded without violence, it caused extended transportation disruptions throughout the city.

Advice

Individuals in the Dhaka are advised to avoid all demonstrations and rallies due to the risk of violence. More generally, due to a high risk of terrorism in Bangladesh, travelers are advised to exercise vigilance when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, festivals, etc.) and report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities.