DHAKA: Bangladesh police said on Wednesday that thousands of people who turned out to welcome former prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed home this week face arrest for defying a ban on political gatherings.

More than 20,000 people cheered the Awami League leader here on Monday as she arrived home from nearly two months overseas after the military-backed government abandoned plans to force her into exile.

“We are going to find out the people who defied the emergency rules on Monday and they will be arrested and prosecuted,” investigating police inspector Shariar Hossain said.

Thousands of Awami League supporters could face two separate charges that carry a maximum penalty of five years in jail, said sub-inspector Abdul Rahim of Dhaka police.

The interim government, installed after a state of emergency was declared in January, has barred political activity and party leaders asked supporters not to gather at the airport.

The government had tried to exile Sheikh Hasina and her arch-rival Khaleda Zia, the most recent prime minister and leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, who have dominated Bangladeshi politics for years. After Sheikh Hasina left in March to visit relatives in the US, the interim government informed all airlines that the leader was barred from returning to Bangladesh.—AFP