The National Citizen Party, along with several other political parties and groups, continued their blockade at the Shahbagh crossing in Dhaka for the second day on Saturday demanding trial of the Awami League, ban on the party鈥檚 political activities, and the proclamation of a July charter.
Protest demonstrations, with the same demands, were also held in other cities and places, including Sylhet, Thakurgaon and Mawa.
Shahbagh protest leaders said they will not lift the blockade until their demands are met amid huge public sufferings as the crossing has been under the blockade since Friday afternoon.
The blockade was in progress at 9:00pm on Saturday when this report was being filed. The demonstration as usual halted vehicular movement on the adjacent thoroughfares, causing tailbacks in the surrounding areas as police diverted vehicles at different places.
The protesters at the pre-announced Shahbagh rally demanded the trial of and ban on the AL, citing its involvement in killings during the July mass uprising, and in the earlier BDR carnage, Shapla Square massacre, and the enforced disappearances carried out over its 15-year fascist rule.
Addressing the rally, NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain said the AL government carried out mass killings and was involved in crimes against humanity, adding the AL has no right to do politics in the country.
About the three-point demand, Akhtar said, 鈥楾he Awami League must be declared a terrorist organisation and it should be banned immediately. It must be tried as a party by incorporating a provision into the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act to enable the trial of any organisation involved such crimes. Besides, a July charter must be issued immediately.鈥�
The protesters will not leave the streets until the demands are met, said Akhtar, adding that the July uprising forces will protest against any initiative to rehabilitate the Awami League.
Students, individuals injured during the July uprising, and activists from a wide range of political and religious organisations, including the National Citizen Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, Islami Chhatra Andolan Bangladesh, Inquilab Mancha, Bangladesh Labour Party and Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad, joined the rally that began at around 4:00pm.
Addressing the rally, Islami Andolan Bangladesh secretary general Yunus Ahmad stated that the Awami League was a party of murderers, terrorists, and money launderers.
He said that no one can do politics under the name of Awami League in the country.
Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh joint secretary general Azizul Haque Islamabadi said the government should begin the trial of Awami League for the Shapla Square massacre, killings during the July mass uprising and the BDR carnage immediately after it formed the government in 2009.
Nine months have already passed after the interim government came to power but the government has done nothing to ensure the trial, alleged Azizul and warned the government that they will organise a tough movement if the Awami League is not banned within 24 hours.
Bangladesh Labour Party chair Mostafizur Rahman Iran said people of the country gave their decision about the Awami League on August 5 through the uprising, urging the government to comply with the decisions.
NCP chief organiser for South Hasnat Abdullah on Friday night announced that that simultaneous mass rallies would be held at all the 鈥楯uly Points鈥� across the country.聽
Protesters in small groups, however, held separate rallies on Saturday in some areas, including Mirpur-10 crossing, Science Laboratory crossing, Jatrabari, Chankharpool, Rampura in the capital to press for the three demands.
About the troubling city traffic situation amid the Shahbagh blockade, Dhaka Metropolitan Police officials said they have already taken measures to mitigate public sufferings.
鈥榃e have diverted vehicles at different places, including Banglamotor, Katabon and Matsya Bhaban to mitigate people鈥檚 sufferings,鈥� said Dhaka Metropolitan Police division鈥檚 deputy commissioner for traffic Md Shafiqul Islam.聽聽
The interim government earlier on Friday issued a statement urging protesters to have patience until a decision was reached about the demands.
Hasnat meanwhile in a Facebook post on early Saturday urged the protesters not to block any highways and roads across the country except Shahbagh.
Ganosamhati Andolan chief coordinator Zonayed Saki and its executive coordinator Abul Hassan Rubel on Saturday issued a statement to demand trial of the AL as a party for carrying out massacres during the July uprising, suppressing people鈥檚 voice, depriving people from voting rights, and its involvement in enforced disappearances during its 15-year fascist rule.
Ganosamhati also announced a protest rally to be held in front of the National Press Club in the capital at 4:00pm on Sunday to press home the demands.
Gana Adhikar Parishad on Saturday held a separate protest demonstration at Paltan in Dhaka demanding ban on the AL.
The party鈥檚 president Nurul Haque Nur demanded of the government to hold a meeting with all political parties to ban the AL immediately. He also expressed the apprehension that the country would face a crisis of sovereignty if the politics of AL is not banned.
Activists of the NCP and Chhatra Shibir staged a demonstration at Mawa blocking the Dhaka-Mawa expressway for about five minutes, reported 抖阴精品 Correspondent in Munshiganj.
Earlier on Thursday night, students, political leaders and activists from different parties and organisations held demonstrations near the chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus鈥� official residence Jamuna in the capital, responding to calls from NCP leaders Nahid Islam and Hasnat Abdullah.
