Bangladesh's Opposition Leader Alamgir Arrested Following Violent Clashes

Bangladesh's opposition leader and several members of his party have been arrested after violent protests in Dhaka. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is among those facing charges. The protests, which saw tens of thousands of demonstrators, called for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down. One police officer and at least one protester were killed during the protests. There are conflicting reports surrounding the arrest of Mr. Alamgir, with local media reporting that he was detained for allegedly attacking the home of Bangladesh's chief justice. However, according to AFP news agency, he was charged, along with 164 other BNP members, with murder following the death of the police officer during Saturday's protest. The police claimed that the officer was hacked to death by BNP activists. Violent clashes between protesters and police continued on Sunday, resulting in injuries. Mr. Alamgir has led the BNP since the imprisonment of Khaleda Zia, the former prime minister. The BNP has been organizing protests against Prime Minister Hasina, demanding her resignation and a neutral government during the upcoming elections in January. More than 3,000 party activists and supporters have reportedly been detained in the past week, according to a BNP spokesperson, while Dhaka police stated that at least 1,480 opposition activists have been arrested and charged with violence since October 21. Among those arrested are nearly 700 individuals who participated in Saturday's protests. Prime Minister Hasina, who has been in power since 2009, has been accused of targeting activists and political opponents, a claim she denies. The political landscape in Bangladesh has long been marked by a rivalry between Hasina and Zia, both having previously served as prime ministers.