July Uprising injured blockade Shahbagh over three demands, including Awami League ban

The injured in the July Uprising have blocked the Shahbagh intersection demanding a permanent ban on the Awami League, issuance of the July Charter and the proper medical care of those wounded in the movement.

Facing demands from the National Citizen Party (NCP)—formed by student leaders of the July Uprising—and several Islamist groups including Jamaat-e-Islami, the interim government decided to outlaw the Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act on Saturday night.

Although the organisations left after the government’s decision was announced, a group of injured from the mass uprising last year continued the blockade as they were seen staging a sit-in at 2:30pm on Sunday.

They say the demonstrations would continue until their demands are met.

A protester, Masud Ahmed told bdnews24.com: “The Awami League should be permanently banned as a party. The July Charter should be published and the injured should be provided with proper treatment.”

Another protester, Sumon said: “I was admitted to [Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital]. Along with the demand to ban the Awami League, our demand was that the July Charter be published. They [government] accepted one demand, and said the other would be met within 30 days.

“How’re they [authorities] going to make the demands a reality in 30 days when they could not come up with the charter in nine months?”

Mohammad Shakil, another protester said: “Why are you still not providing better treatment to the injured? There are still countless injured people languishing in hospitals. This government must provide them with better treatment.”

Nurul Islam, another activist, told bdnews24.com that the group of wounded people uprising remained in Shahbagh from Saturday night.

He said, “Banning the activities of the Awami League and banning the Awami League are not the same thing. The government is baiting us. Therefore, we are here to claim our demands.”

The movement to remove the Awami League from the political landscape gained momentum four days ago, following former President Abdul Hamid's departure from the country.

Earlier, on Thursday night, a group of protesters led by Hasnat Abdullah, chief organiser of the NCP’s southern unit, staged a sit-in outside Yunus’s residence.

The demonstration drew support from the Jamaat-e-Islami and its student front Islami Chhatra Shibir, AB Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Hifazat-e-Islam, and student groups affiliated with the Anti-discrimination Student Movement.

After Friday prayers, they set up a stage at the entrance of Minto Road and held a rally there. Leaders and activists of various political parties participated in it holding placards and festoons demanding the banning of the Awami League.

From there, after NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah announced the blockade of Shahbagh, the protesters took a stand in Shahbagh since the afternoon.

Following Friday prayers, protesters set up a stage at the Minto Road entry point and held a rally, brandishing placards and banners demanding that the Awami League be outlawed.

From the rally, Hasnat announced a blockade at Shahbagh. By Friday afternoon, demonstrators had begun their sit-in at Shahbagh, which continued into the evening.

On Saturday afternoon, a fresh “mass gathering” at Shahbagh reiterated the demand to ban the ousted Awami League.

While the mass gathering programme was under way in Shahbagh, those injured in the July Uprising blocked the road at the Shishu Mela intersection on Mirpur Road. Workers of different political parties also showed solidarity by blocking the Dhaka-Chittagong highway at Shonir Akhra.

The decision to ban the activities of the Awami League came An emergency meeting of the Advisory Council headed by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.