Dhaka on edge as unrest concerns grip city

Sheikh Hasina fled the country on August 5 after resigning in the face of a mass uprising centred on students’ movement for quota reform. Ministers of the ousted government, members of parliament and leaders of all levels of the Awami League have gone into hiding.

Even under such circumstances, Awami League leaders and activists held protests in Gopalganj.

It is believed that the Awami League may attempt to organise centring August 15 across the country, including in the capital. This poses a serious risk of further unrest.

To prevent any untoward incident, the Boishommo Birodhi Chhatra Andolon, BNP, and Gono Odhikar Parishad have announced a mass sit-in programme throughout Bangladesh, in a bid to remain vigilant.

Students, under the banner of Boishommo Birodhi Chhatra Andolon, occupied the road adjacent to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's residence at Dhanmondi 32 and the surrounding areas around 6:30am on Thursday.

They are not allowing anyone near Bangabandhu’s residence.

The protesting students have taken up positions in front of Dhanmondi 32 and Metro Shopping Mall in Shukrabad intersection. Frequent processions going around Dhanmondi 27, and circling back to 32.

Students, carrying sticks and pipes, have gathered in Dhanmondi 32 in large numbers.

Earlier, the Boishommo Birodhi Chhatra Andolon announced a nationwide sit-in demonstration as part of the “Resistance Week” programme at 10am, placing home their 4-point demand.

Coordinators of the movement also announced a rally in the city’s Shahbagh intersection at 10am.

The four point demands are –

1. Special tribunals should be set up to ensure speedy trial of murders committed using fascist infrastructures.
2. Culprits, including those in the Awami League and the fourteen-party alliance, who attempted to debunk the mass uprising through planned looting and robberies on the minority communities, must be brought to justice.
3. Those in the administration and judiciary who have legitimised the attacks, prosecutions, and killings during student uprisings and have repeatedly tried to perpetuate fascism, must be removed and prosecuted as soon as possible.
4. Equal opportunity should be ensured for those who have been discriminated against in the administration and judiciary.

Meanwhile, the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) has called for a sit-in programme at the central Shaheed Minar of the capital at 10am.

According to a circular sent by Chhatra Dal Office Secretary Jahangir Alam, the party will hold a demonstration demanding Hasina's trial for the Pilkhana killings, 28 October Logi Baitha rampage, killing of clerics and madrasa students in the night at Shapla Chattar, brutal suppression of the democratic movements, and the quota reform movement.

On the other hand, the Gono Odhikar Parishad will hold a sit-in programme at 11am in the capital’s Purana Paltan, Bijay Nagar, Panir Tanki Mor, and Al-Razi Complex areas on Thursday.

Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Noor, General Secretary Rashed Khan and other leaders and activists will attend these programmes.