Protesters block Shahbagh demanding AL ban

Leaders and activists from the National Citizen Party (NCP), along with several political parties and organisations tied to the July Uprising have blocked Dhaka's Shahbagh intersection demanding a ban on the Awami League.

The blockade 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 unit, announced the Shahbagh blockade.

"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," he said.

Earlier, on Thursday night, as discussions swirled around former president Md Abdul Hamid's departure from Bangladesh, a group of protesters led by Hasnat staged a sit-in outside Muhammad Yunus's residence.

The protest drew solidarity from Jamaat-e-Islami, AB Party, Islami Chhatra Shibir, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Hifazat-e Islam, and student groups involved in the Anti-discrimination Student Movement.

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, bdnews24 reports.

At the rally, Hasnat 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."

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 also 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.

In addition, the CAO said, the government has taken steps to bring necessary amendments to the International Criminal Court Act to take action against organisations involved in crimes against humanity.

The government is also aware of the public anger over the foreign travel of the former president of the "fascist government" and murder suspect Abdul Hamid, the statement said.

The government is determined to take appropriate legal action against all those involved in this incident, it added.