Police block 11-party alliance march to secretariat in Dhaka

A march by the 11-party opposition alliance towards the Secretariat was stopped by police in central Dhaka on Thursday (August 6) as the coalition sought to enforce its "Secretariat siege" programme over the country's worsening fuel and gas shortages, soaring utility bills, deteriorating law and order, and rising prices of essential commodities.

The procession began after a sit-in at Muktangon in Paltan, where leaders and activists gathered despite persistent rain. At around 12:40pm, demonstrators marched towards the Secretariat but were halted by police barricades at Zero Point, preventing them from advancing.

The programme was led by Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, with ACP convener Nahid Islam and leaders from other alliance partners also in attendance.

Addressing the rally, speakers criticised the government over the ongoing energy crisis, what they described as "ghost electricity bills," worsening public security, and the sharp increase in the prices of daily essentials. They demanded immediate measures to resolve the issues and ease the burden on consumers.

The demonstration concluded after police blocked the march, with no immediate reports of clashes or arrests.