A mass rally demanding a ban on the Awami League began near the Chief Adviser’s residence, Jamuna, in the capital shortly after Jummah prayers on Friday.
People from different walks of life were seen joining the gathering in large numbers.
The rally was formally inaugurated with a recitation from the Qur’an at 2:40 pm in front of the InterContinental Hotel (near Jamuna) in Dhaka.
Since noon, groups of students and members of the public had been arriving at the venue in small processions. Leaders and activists from various political parties, along with students and members of the general public, were seen participating in the rally carrying placards and festoons.
The Awami League was ousted from power in August last year following a student-led uprising. Amid growing public outrage, party chief Sheikh Hasina stepped down from the premiership and fled the country.
According to United Nations figures, 1,400 people were killed during the uprising in violence carried out under Hasina’s directives by law enforcement agencies and armed cadres of the AL.
For long, various political parties and civil society groups have accused the Awami League of fascist practices. Since the fall of the AL government, students and citizens involved in the uprising have continued to demand justice.
Demands for action against the AL gained renewed momentum after the secret departure of Abdul Hamid—who served two terms as President during the AL regime—late Wednesday. Platforms that took part in the July uprising have questioned the government’s sincerity in dealing with the matter.
On Thursday at 10:00 pm, a sit-in programme was launched in front of the Chief Adviser’s residence, Jamuna, at the call of Hasnat Abdullah, the southern region chief organiser of the National Citizen Party (NCP).
Leaders and activists from Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Chhatra Shibir, Up Bangladesh, July Unity, Democratic Student Parliament, Qawmi madrasa students, Inqilab Mancha, and other pro-uprising groups joined the programme. Members of various other organisations were also seen at the gathering.
On Friday morning, Hasnat Abdullah announced a large rally following Jummah prayers. For this, five trucks were arranged to construct a temporary stage near the fountain adjacent to Minto Road, next to Jamuna and in front of the InterContinental Hotel.
Around noon, demonstrators marched towards the stage from in front of Jamuna in processions and offered Jummah prayers on the street.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
