Bangladesh: Protesters clash with police in Dhaka Dec. 5

Event

Supporters of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) violently protested in Dhaka on Tuesday, December 5. The demonstration started outside of the Secretariat of Dhaka during a graft hearing for BNP’s Chairperson, Khaleda Zia. Protests reportedly turned violent around 14:50 (local time) after Zia left the courthouse, with participants indiscriminately vandalizing vehicles. According to media reports, between 70 and 100 vehicles were torched or damaged, causing significant traffic disruptions near the Secretariat and the Sikkha Bhaban area. Clashes broke out between police officers and protesters, resulting in at least 27 people being wounded; at least 15 people have been arrested. Expect increased security measures and traffic disruptions in the area.

Context

Zia was Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 1991 to 1996 and from 2001 to 2006. On October 11 this year, two courts issued warrants for Zia's arrest, one on charges of corruption, and the other in connection with a bomb attack on a bus in Chouddagram in 2015. Zia's supporters claim that the charges are politically motivated, and that the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is trying to find a reason to bar Zia from participating in 2019 general elections.

Advice

Individuals in 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.