Massive protests were reportedly staged | Staged. Interesting choice of words. |
Hasina denied the charges and told the court, "I am not an offender, I am not an extortionist. My family and political ideology taught me to serve people's cause, not extortion." She called the cases "false and fabricated" and claimed she had been arrested without being shown any chargesheet or arrest warrant.
Awami League supporters held massive protest outside the magistrate's court and elsewhere in Dhaka. Police fired rubber bullets and teargas shells which injured the protestors, the news agency said. Another demonstration to protest the arrest was held at the Dhaka University campus.