Bangladesh: Opposition party to hold countrywide human chain March 6

Event

The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is organizing countrywide human chain on Tuesday, March 6. The chain, among other events, is being carried out to demand the release of party chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, convicted of corruption in February. Another demonstration will take place in front of the National Press Club in the capital Dhaka, between 11:00 and noon (local time) on Tuesday. A related rally has also been planned for Monday in the city of Khulna.

Context

On February 8, Khaleda was sentenced to five years in jail on corruption charges. She was the prime minister of Bangladesh from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006. BNP is one of the two major parties of this politically volatile South Asian country.

Advice

Individuals present Bangladesh, a country with a long history of political violence, are advised to avoid all large gatherings, political offices, and rallies, notably in Dhaka.