Shahbagh blockade continues as protesters shout anti-AL slogans

Protesters continue to block the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka on Friday night, chanting slogans demanding a ban on the Awami League.

Leaders and activists from the National Citizen Party (NCP) and other groups associated with the July Uprising began their sit-in protest at Shahbagh from Friday afternoon, holding placards and chanting slogans like “Ban, ban, Awami League!”

Their blockade was still ongoing at 10pm.

It began on Friday afternoon following a rally near the entrance to Minto Road, close to the chief advisor’s residence State Guest House Jamuna.

From that rally, Hasnat Abdullah, chief organiser of the NCP’s Southern unit, announced the blockade.

After Jummah prayers on Friday, they set up a stage at the Minto Road entry point and held a rally, carrying placards and banners demanding the ban on the Awami League.

From the stage, Hasnat declared: “Our demands have not reached the ears of the interim [government]. So we are moving from the rally site to block Shahbagh. We will remain there until our demands are met.”

At the rally, he said: “Even if you gather a hundred Pharaohs, you won’t get one Hasina. Why is the Awami League even called a political party?

“We’re hearing that the chief advisor is trying to sit with political parties. He will decide on banning the Awami League after these meetings.”

He said, “Awami League has blood on its hands, whether it’s the sticks and oars killings of 2006, the massacre of patriotic BDR soldiers in Pilkhana with Indian intervention, or the violence in Shapla Chattar. We've heard enough of their track record. We don’t want to live in a Bangladesh that is infected with the Awami League virus.”

The protesters declared that their blockade would continue until the Awami League was officially banned.

“We have organised this rally to unite everyone,” Hasnat said. “Now we are heading to Shahbagh for the blockade.”

After 4pm, the protesters began moving toward Shahbagh, bringing traffic to a standstill in all directions leading to the area.

Roads from Shahbagh to Katabon, Matsya Bhaban and Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue saw intense traffic congestion.

Mosaddek Ali, a driver stuck near Bangladesh Medical University around 8:30pm, told bdnews24.com: “The traffic is so bad, I can’t move forward or backward. I’ve been stuck since the evening.”

While the rally was under way, the Chief Advisor’s Office (CAO) issued a statement clarifying the government’s stance on the matter.

It said the government has already established contact with the political parties and plans to take a decision quickly after discussing the issue with them.

The statement also mentioned that the government is taking into consideration the UN report on the terrorist activities of Awami League leaders and supporters, and called on everyone to be patient until then.

The government has already banned the Chhatra League – the Awami League’s student unit – as a “terrorist organisation” under the existing law in response to public demand, the statement said.