Dhaka: Police in Dhaka deployed tear gas and sound grenades on Friday to break up a protest organized by members of Hizb-ut-Tahrir, a banned Islamist group advocating for the replacement of Bangladesh’s secular democracy with an Islamic caliphate.
Hundreds of activists gathered outside Baitul Mukarram Mosque following Friday prayers for a demonstration called the ‘March for Khilafat,’ chanting slogans in support of their cause. Defying police barricades, the protesters attempted to march through the streets, prompting law enforcement to intervene with force.
Witnesses reported that the crowd proved difficult to control, leading the Dhaka Metropolitan Police to use tear gas and sound grenades to disperse them. Just a day earlier, authorities had issued a warning against banned organizations holding public rallies.
Hizb-ut-Tahrir, which was outlawed in Bangladesh in 2009 due to national security concerns, has repeatedly held demonstrations despite government restrictions. The group, headquartered in London, claims to pursue its goal of establishing a pan-Islamic state through peaceful means.
Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority nation with a population of 170 million, continues to face political unrest. The situation has been tense since an interim administration, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, took power following protests that forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to leave the country.
