DHAKA: At least 20,000 opposition supporters rallied in the Bangladeshi capital on Tuesday to demand the abolition of a new government policy that critics say would muzzle independent television and radio stations.

The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its 19 allies staged the rally as they launched a string of fresh protests aimed at forcing early elections.

The protests come just mo­nths after the ruling Awa­mi League party won parliamentary elections that were boycotted by the opposition.

Between 20,000 and 25,000 people, defying driving monsoon rains, attended the rally in the capital’s historic Suhrawardy Uddyan garden, police inspector Sirajul Islam said

Senior opposition leader Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the new broadcast policy was “anti-people”, “anti-democracy” and aimed at allowing the government to stay in power forever.

“Mass media comes under attack whenever Awami League comes to power”, Alamgir said, charging that the broadcast policy was designed to silence dissent and conceal government misdeeds.

The government approved the new policy early this month following a string of media reports alleging government corruption.

The Bangladesh chapter of anti-graft group Transpa­rency International has said the policy clashes with the country’s constitution as it bans the broadcast of any programme that undermines or ridicules the armed forces, law enforcement agencies or officers.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2014