Protesters gather outside Yunus’s residence demanding AL ban
Several hundred protesters have rallied outside the official residence of Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, demanding a ban on the Awami League, following a call from National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Hasnat Abdullah.
Police have blocked all roads leading towards State Guest House Jamuna, including Kakrail intersection, InterContinental Dhaka hotel crossing, and Mintu Road intersection.
They are controlling traffic and not allowing vehicles to enter the blocked areas.
Small processions, however, are being allowed to approach the protest site, though no rickshaws, motorcycles, or cars are being permitted within the barricades.
The sit-in began at 10pm on Thursday night, shortly after Hasnat, chief organiser of the NCP’s southern region, issued the call in a Facebook post around 9:50pm.
The post came in the wake of former president Md Abdul Hamid’s departure from the country earlier that morning.
“In the absence of a clear roadmap to ensure trial of the ‘genocidal’ Awami League and a ban on its political activities, we will continue our sit-in in front of the chief advisor’s residence, Jamuna,” Hasnat wrote.
“We refuse to align with anyone who lacks a clear stance on banning the ‘genocidal’ Awami League.”
Within just 10 minutes, the post received around 2,500 comments and 1,000 shares.
Most of the comments favoured the call though some reacted critically, with a few labelling the move as a “drama”.
Comments that supported Hasnat’s call included: “best decision taken so far”, “100% captain”, “with you, brother”, “fully agree”, “captain’s best decision”, and “Inqilab Zindabad”.
Some, however, replied with pushback remarks such as: “90 percent of Bangladeshis want the Awami League in power at any cost, so the country should be handed over to them”, “Don’t stage another drama, people are tired of your stunts”, and “Remove Hasnat, save the country. Remove Pakistani agents.”
Following Hamid’s exit, student platforms involved in the July Uprising have grown more vocal.
Multiple police officers have already been transferred or removed from duty over alleged negligence linked to those events.
