United News of Bangladesh

The leaders and activists of Chhatra Dal, the student wing of BNP, withdrew blockade from Shahbagh in the capital after nearly one and a half hours on Tuesday afternoon. The JCD activists staged sit-in there demanding justice for their fellow activist Shammo, resignation of the Vice-Chancellor and Proctor of Dhaka University and ensuring a safe campus environment. Witnesses said Chhatra Dal activists of its different units gathered in the area around 3pm, halting traffic in the adjacent roads and causing suffering to commuters amid rain. BNP’s 8-day programme marking Zia’s death anniversary JCD president Rakibul Islam Rakib, general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir, and activists from Dhaka University, Dhaka Metropolitan North and South units joined the demonstration. They left the area around 5 pm, allowing traffic in the busy intersection to return to normal. Earlier on Sunday, they enforced a similar two-hour blockade at Shahbagh to press home the same demands.

The blockade programme at Shahbagh intersection, demanding a ban on the Awami League  continued for the second consecutive day on Saturday. Witnesses said roads in the area remained closed although emergency vehicles including ambulances are being allowed to pass Kawsar Ahmed, a participant from Gazipur,  said, “Our blockade programme is still ongoing. It will continue until Awami League is banned.” Led by NCP, protesters block Shahbagh demanding ban on Awami League National Citizens Party (NCP)’s Southern Region Chief Organiser Hasnat Abdullah announced the mass rally to press home their 3-point demand. In a Facebook post on Friday night, he wrote that a mass gathering will be held at Shahbagh from 3pm. Students to block Shahbagh at 9:30 tonight to demand KUET VC's resignation The demands are  declaring Awami League as a terrorist organisation and banning it, including a provision for group trial of Awami League under the International Crimes Tribunal Act and issuing the July declaration. Earlier, protesters blocked the Shahbagh intersection around 4:40 pm on Friday, demanding a ban on the Awami League (AL) and vowing to continue their sit-in until their demands are met.  

Hundreds of leader and activists of Muktijoddha Mancha,  a platform claiming to represent freedom fighter-families' interests, shut down the city's Shahbagh intersection on Saturday demanding arrest of Islamist leaders Mufti Syed Mohammad Faizul Karim and Mamunul Haque.