Protest in Sydney against Hasina Wajid

SYDNEY: Hundreds of Bangladeshi-born Australians gathered in front of the venue of Global Summit of Women at Darling Harbour, Sydney and record their massive protest against Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina Wajid.

The organisers of the event paid high respect to Hasina Wajid and presented her Global Women’s Leadership Award at its annual international gathering of women influences and opinion leaders. On the other hand, hundreds of Bangladeshi background Australian citizens and residents protested against the human rights violations and atrocities happening in Bangladesh in her government currently.

About 500 protesters, mostly youth, gathered in front of the summit’s venue, the International Convention Centre Sydney, while about 300 protesters gathered on Friday on April 27 at the Chiefly Square in front of the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, where she came to join a party programme. Due to the massive protests, Sheikh Hasina had to use alternative service entrances instead of the main gates to join the events on both days.

Sheikh Hasina, leader of the Bangladeshi Awami League, is facing significant pressure from both domestic and international forums on extrajudicial killings and target killings of opponent party leaders since 2009. Her government has been accused of fostering a culture of impunity by failing to act after a series of brutal murders, increasing rates of rapes, violence against women, promoting child marriage and so on.