Protesters – as part of the movement organised by Boishommo Birodhi Chhatra Andolon – gathered in the thousands at the New Market intersection of Chattogram.
Students and citizens also took up positions at the port city’s Kotwali, Reazuddin Bazar, Station Road, Jubilee Road and the road towards City College. Traffic remains halted on the four busy roads towards New Market, resulting in a severe gridlock.
Even though the protesters gathered at the New Market intersection, there was no noticeable presence of law enforcers in the area.
Students started gathering at the New Market intersection from 2.30pm on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the same day, the local Awami League held a peace rally at various intersections in the port city – including at the Lalkhan Bazar intersection, Bahaddarhat, Gate Number 2, Chattogram Medical College Hospital gate, and Andarkilla.
In that rally, speakers welcomed the decision to ban Jamaat-Shibir and condemned the ongoing anarchy across the country. The rally demanded that those involved in various anti-national activities be brought to book, and given exemplary punishment.
Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Public Relations Officer and Additional Police Commissioner Kazi Md Tarek Aziz said, “The police are on high alert, and measures will be taken after evaluating the situation.”
Boishommo Birodhi Chhatra Andolon on Friday had announced a demonstration across the country, protesting the attacks on the peaceful movement of students and citizens, the July killings. They also pressed a 9-point demand.
Protesters also announced an indefinite “non-cooperation” movement from Sunday throughout Bangladesh.
