Rivals of ousted Bangladesh leader Sheikh Hasina foil her party's attempt to hold a rally

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Rivals of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday thwarted a plan by her Awami League party to hold a rally in Bangladesh’s capital, seen as a potential first effort to make a comeback on the streets since she fled the country in August amid a mass uprising.

The rally in Dhaka by Hasina’s party was to commemorate the death of a party activist on Nov. 10, 1987, which had sparked a mass protest against former military dictator H.M. Ershad. He was eventually ousted from office, ending his nine-year rule in 1990.

The day is commemorated as “democracy day.” In 1991, Bangladesh switched to a parliamentary democracy from a presidential form of government, and since then Hasina and her rival, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, became the most powerful political figures in the country.

On Sunday, activists of the party headed by Zia, Hasina’s main rival, and also members of the conservative Jamaat-e-Islami party took to the streets of Dhaka, filling up much of the area where the rally was scheduled to take place.

Others, including hundreds of student protesters, also announced that they wouldn't allow Hasina’s supporters to stand on the streets and hold the rally. The protesters said that they think Hasina’s party was trying to make a comeback by holding a rally on the streets on Sunday. The protesters from the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, a group that led the mass uprising in July-August, aggressively hunted for supporters of Hasina.

Groups of people surrounded the Awami League party’s headquarters near the Noor Hossain Square in Dhaka where Hasina’s supporters were supposed to gather to hold the rally.

Security was tight in the area, but witnesses and local media said that the protesters attacked several supporters of Hasina when they attempted to reach there and chanted slogans in favor of the fallen leader.

The Awami League party said that many of their activists were detained by police as they came under attacks.

Tensions ran high throughout Sunday with the anti-Hasina protesters saying that they wouldn't allow the party to hold any public rally under any circumstances. The Awami League party questioned the notion, saying it is against the spirit of democracy and the constitutional right to assembly.

The Awami League party posted a number of videos on Facebook on Sunday showing its supporters being manhandled. Its party headquarters had earlier been vandalized following Hasina’s fall on Aug. 5, and on Sunday it was empty and there were signs of destruction. Outside, control was in the hands of Hasina’s opponents.

The political chaos in the South Asian nation went on as Zia’s party was seeking quick reforms and a new election from an interim government headed by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus. The party believes it will be able to form the new government in the absence of Hasina’s party, while its other allies are also struggling.

As the interim government ends its three months in office, people remain concerned over high commodity prices, law and order, mob justice and the rise of Islamist forces once suppressed by Hasina's regime. The international community also remains wary about alleged attacks on minority groups, especially Hindus that make up about 8% of the country's 170 million people.

The Yunus-led government said it would seek extradition of Hasina and her close associates as they face charges of crimes against humanity involving deaths of hundreds of protesters during the uprising.

On Sunday, Bangladesh’s Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said the interim government would ask Interpol to issue red notices seeking the arrest and repatriation of fugitives allegedly responsible for the deaths of people during the mass uprising.

“We will … prioritize bringing them back from wherever they are hiding,” he told reporters in Dhaka.

The ransacked Awami League party office is seen in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

A torn poster of Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, hangs in an abandoned Awami League office in Dhaka. in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

Protesters walk through ransacked Awami League party office in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

A police officer shields an Awami League woman supporter from students from anti-discrimination movements in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

Students from anti-discrimination movements and Bangladesh Nationalist Party activists attack an Awami League supporter in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

Students from anti-discrimination movements attack an Awami League supporter in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

Bangladesh Nationalist Party activists shout slogans near prime minister Sheikh Hassan's Awami League party office in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

Policemen try to stop Bangladesh Nationalist Party activists marching near prime minister Sheikh Hassan's Awami League party office in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

Bangladesh Nationalist Party activists shout slogans during a protest to counter former prime minister Sheikh Hassan's Awami League party rally in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

Bangladesh Nationalist Party activists shout slogans during a protest to counter former prime minister Sheikh Hassan's Awami League party rally in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

ATLANTA (AP) — Duke's young players are still having issues with cramping.

While Cooper Flagg made it to the end of the game Tuesday night against Kentucky, scoring 26 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a 77-72 loss, another freshman was forced out with the same issue that has plagued Flagg.

Center Khaman Maluach began cramping in the first half and wound up playing only 23 minutes. He finished with 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting, to go along with seven rebounds and two blocks.

“I think we were up nine when Khaman started cramping in the first half,” coach Jon Scheyer said. “I think part of it is we have young bodies. I think that’s part of it, where we’ve got to help these guys. Again, we’re not trying to just dip our toes in the water. We need Cooper to play a lot and Khaman too.”

The 17-year-old Flagg, who has been projected as the possible top pick in next year's NBA draft, had cramping issues in No. 6 Duke's first two games, both victories. That prompted Scheyer to lash out at his staff for not getting his prized recruit in the best possible condition.

That wasn't a problem against No. 19 Kentucky, though Flagg appeared to be struggling physically in the closing minute as he turned the ball over twice, allowing the Wildcats to pull out the victory.

“I wish I could say I didn’t," Flagg said when asked he was fatigued. “I felt it a little bit and tried to fight through it the best I could.”

The Blue Devils also lost a more experienced player, graduate guard Sion James, who fell to the court with an apparent right shoulder injury after running into a screen. He had four points in 13 minutes.

“I don’t know his status,” Scheyer said. “He took a hard hit on that screen, a hard hit. We’ll get him back and get him evaluated and see. Obviously those two guys (James and Maluach) are really important to us.”

The Blue Devils have dealt with cramping issues before. Paolo Banchero had a similar problem early in his lone season at Duke, but he went on to lead the team to the Final Four before becoming the top overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft.

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Duke Blue guard Sion James (14) scores during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore )

Duke Blue guard Sion James leaves the court after being injured during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Kentucky center Amari Williams (22) drives against Duke center Khaman Maluach (9) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore )

Duke Blue center Khaman Maluach (9) reacts after a Blue Divila's basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore )

Duke guard Cooper Flagg (2) takes a shot as Kentucky forward Brandon Garrison (10) defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore )

Duke guard Cooper Flagg (2) passes as Kentucky forward Andrew Carr (7) defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore )